WORRIER TO WARRIOR PRINCESS: Graduating from Campus.

 

Hello God's Artwork,

Today's post is more to my friends and family, but I consider you family and that's why I've put it here. My prayer is that every aspect of my life ministers to you that's why I'm posting this here too.

 

Three months ago, on a chilly Friday morning...😜 I celebrated one of the biggest events in my life. So allow me to start by apologizing for not sharing immediately, because you truly deserve to be a part of this. Many of you have prayed with and for me for the past 7... Maybe even 20... Years, to see this day come to pass...

 

...I graduated...

 

Yes, on 18th December 2020! A day I hope to never forget. I graduated after 7 years of pursuing😅 a degree in architecture. Now I understand why they use that word 'pursue'. It's always trying to run away😅😂...

 

Tears of joy and overwhelm from what God was saying through my pastor.

It's either the temptations of ungodly relationships, atheism, or drugs, or sometimes stress and temptations to quit, or die🙈. Or sometimes things beyond you, like financial challenges... I experienced it all... Though I'm not sure about the drugs part, because I love my taste buds and lungs too much... but binge watching series for 28hrs is a form of drug, right? —You get high then bad hangovers afterwards... Anyway…

 

Graduating on that day was such a miracle for me because, a week before that, I had begun to think – Not accept, j-u-s-t slightly allow, the thought that I might graduate later this year (2021) instead of 2020... There were a few challenges surrounding my graduation, but God sorted them... Maybe I'll share the details here someday… Because of those challenges and the covid regulations, I didn't throw a party, so  I had to look for creative ways to get photos with family and friends.

 

I know many of you really waited for the photos until you got tired. I'm sorry🙈. I don't have a good explanation of why I never posted when I eventually got them... Oh I remember... Someone requested that I put up the speech I had planned to give, had I done a party, alongside those photos, and include an overview of my entire school life, challenges faced and lessons learnt😅.

 

So, this is me trying to compress 7, actually 19yrs of my education life in one post😅:

 

LOWER PRIMARY SCHOOL:

 

Falling in love with books and craft…

I witnessed at an early age my family move from having it all, to not having it at all😅. This was followed by a lot of early deaths, disagreements and lots of negative energy around me. I thank God however, my little eyes and brain saw beyond all that and noticed one beautiful thing that my Mum did everyday immediately she came from work: reading a book. She liked doing (and still does) it outside seated under a shade on a rock or a stool. This to me was, and still is, such a beautiful scenario, that I desired it for myself. I don't do it under shades like her but I read everyday.😂.

 

That is how my desire for reading began and grew, and lately it's also includes writing (another thing I picked from Mum, who happens to have a very nice handwriting!). Because of that, I didn't notice that this activity I did as a hobby and something I see Mum do, was helping me in my academics and other areas of life…

 

UPPER PRIMARY SCHOOL:

 

The one time I pushed myself the most…

Since birth, I never had the privilege to live with the man who would have been my father (I'll explain later why the use of this phrase.) However, I had the privilege of meeting him a number of times before he continued his life in eternity. In our last meeting, which was, as I came to learn later, his last day on earth, he told me three things that I will never forget (I paraphrase since he said them in Swahili):

 

1. Cherish education and never stop growing in knowledge. Learn as much as you can.

2. Keep loving God the way you do. He'll never disappoint.

3. If you ever find yourself having to choose between the 2 choose the second but try as much to have both.

 

I came to know about his passing on a year after he did. We didn't attend his burial, so for years I thought it was a prank, and that one day he would suddenly show up and... be Dad🙈. I finally had to accept he never will. Those 3 things however, motivated me to work hard in school and kept me out of trouble especially in high school and campus.

 

HIGH SCHOOL:

 

An opportunity for me to dream big…

I got good grades in my KCSE, and got called to an amazing National High School. It was not my first choice but I thank God I was called there and not the others I had chosen😅. It was in that school that the ghetto and villager in me were taken out 😆 and I was able to dream bigger dreams. This was through the various preachers and motivational speakers invited to the school, the teachers and even the stories about the history of the school. 

 

My experiences there, allowed me to dream of things like shaking hands with greatness😉, going abroad, choosing any career and do anything my mind thought impossible. By the time I was in Form 4, I was so torn on what course to pick for campus. However, after the results were out, and taking time to pray, I settled for Architecture.

 

 

The busy background is photos of my first year work.

 

PRE-CAMPUS:

 

Before fully settling for architecture, I studied programming at E-mobilis Training institute. That is where I gained interest in website creation and even started a blog that I never shared with anyone🙈… okay, I can here the people who like this blog say, 'let's skip this part,' ...

 

CAMPUS - School of Architecture:

 

Worrier to warrior princess…

School of architecture was tough. This course demanded for my everything: sleep, physical energy, mental energy,  lots of money, time – even relationship time… I mean family and friends😉. Yet somehow, I found time to serve in church (me balancing the 2 things as daddy advised). When I look back at my 7 years, I can't avoid summarizing it this way: "Studying Architecture as a Worship Leader".

 

Creativity is a spirit that can be imparted through any man of any creative field. I would say God used my various choir leaders to impart creativity. Many lessons I have learnt as a worshiper have really influenced my architectural experience. I hope to share these here soon.

 

In my first part of campus, though born again, I used a lot of human effort and worldly wisdom to keep at it. In the latter part I learnt (though still learning), to fully depend on God. Whenever I do, it's much easier. I have come to realize that whenever I struggle with the course and life generally, most times it's human effort or not being led by God.

 

During my confusion of picking a course, I remember telling God, "I know I can pick any course and I will thrive in it, but God, guide me to a course that will force me to fully rely on You and not my brilliance…" And architecture is it. It was tough but I am getting it daily. 

 

Architecture has taught me to walk by faith. It takes a lot of faith to interpret peoples dreams and visions into actual buildings and hear them say, "This is exactly (or more than) what I wanted." It forced me to resolve my past — You can't serve people well if you keep being dragged by your past.

 

 

LIFE AFTER CAMPUS:

 

I've learnt so much over the years both in class and out of class. I know I have to account for everything that has been given to me. So, feel free to start bringing your requests for building design. And because of order, and not limiting God or myself... I'm taking 10 residential projects for the remaining part of the year... And as many  commercial projects 😜...

 

 

screenshot from my final year project... Adaptability in Urban Housing

 

In the meantime... You are welcome to tap into the other areas of my gift like the Andika'mi project : A part of me I have been unable to keep running away from... And this blog.

 

VOTE OF THANKS

 

My schooling and getting here has taken the contribution of many maaany people. I had started a diary to record the people who have been a blessing to me but at some point I lost track… A big thank you to you who gave me a pen, textbooks,  shopping, pocket money, a phone! hostel rent, printing money, paid bus fare, gave an encouraging word, a correction, rebuke, advice, prayed for me, took me out to relax, a hug, a smile, a checking-on-you text, a ride home, a lift to wherever, a laptop, a desk, bedding, official clothes, a place of internship, tissue and Vaseline (I would often forget to carry these🙈) … the list is endless.

 

I had planned not to pick anybody out because you all played an important role in my life, but I have to give a big thank you to the people who walked with me through the lowest phase of my life - recovering from surgery. Thank you to those who catered for it financially, those who prayed with me, encouraged me, visited me and those who supported me until I could run again💃…

 

I used to look forward to giving back, but recently God corrected me that giving back is most times, not to the one who gave you, but it is you identifying another who needs to be lifted the way you were lifted. I therefore promise you all, that I will lift as I have been lifted as a form of giving back and as I am led of the Holy Spirit, I will sign cheques (water those who watered me), for many of you who lifted me.

 

To those reading this and who went ahead of us, thank you for setting the pace and examples for us. May we receive divine strength to do more.

To those looking forward to getting here, I pray my story be an encouragement to you. Trust in God and he will direct your paths. And guess what? His leading is ALWAYS to triumph!

 

FINALLY:

My birthday is next month😉, I plan to do a #25years25lessons challenge. You're welcome to follow it on our Facebook as I share the lessons I've learnt over the years. I am also GLADLY still receiving graduation gifts😜. feel free to contact me to pick it up 😆.

Until the next post, remember, you are God's Artwork and He is at work in you, through you and for you.

💕