Kenya Visit - Update 4

By Suzanne

I've been having some interesting conversations with the GEF Scholars and others about choices. While in school is it best to take seven subjects or eight? Should I study 24/7? If I want to pursue career X, do I need to study subject Y? There are a lot of questions facing the GEF Scholars when it comes to their secondary school educations, but sometimes the real challenge is coming to understand the opportunities, challenges and overall questions that need to be addressed when school is wrapping up.

Having the chance to attend university is one step towards reaching one's dream, but the Scholars are realizing, as many of us do, that it is not an end all. If we are able to make the most of what we have available to us at any given moment, whether it is a class, a pencil, a car or the chance to listen and learn, than we have the opportunity to grow our skill set and to ultimately better ourselves. In my opinion it is the way that we end up really finding our role in the community or in the working world. As one of the Scholars put it, "We have choices. It's just a matter of deciding" and, if I could add, recognizing the opportunities and translating choice into some kind of action.

So whether someone is trying to decide between chemistry and biology or which route to take to the office today, there are always choices to be made and things to be learned. The big challenge is recognizing what choices are really available at any given moment and deciding to take action... and one step further... actually taking action.

This week the secondary school results came out (the KCSE - a extremely rigorous exam that determines many Kenyan students' educational paths). The GEF Scholars were disappointed even though they all scored well. They are coming to understand that maybe their first choice might not be realistic right now. After some guidance, one of our scholars realized that the exam wasn't going to determine her worth, that she is the only one who can do that. She has decided to proudly moving forward knowing that she still has choices to be made and paths to explore.