We often make excuses when things don’t go right and blame the circumstances we find ourselves in for our own shortcomings. If this is a habit you’re fond of, perhaps these few candidates of the 2018 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education will inspire you to make the best of everything life throws at you.
Meet Mary Kamanthe Mutua, the beautiful 15-year old who was one of the top performers with 415 marks in Amani Primary School in Mikindani, Changamwe Constituency, Mombasa County.
At the time of her examination, Mary was going through excruciating persistent pain due to a strange swelling in her left leg that had lasted for several months ahead of her KCPE exam.
According to Mary’s father Josephat Mwangani Mutua, his daughter’s pain became worse a few weeks to the national examination and he therefore decided to take her to hospital. When the test results came out, Mary was diagnosed with bone cancer and required urgent treatment.
However, in a bid to keep her focused on the exam he did not break the news to her until she had completed her last paper.
“After the doctor’s diagnosis, I decided not to break the news to my daughter since this would have shattered her life affecting her performance in the examinations,” said Mary’s father.
Mary now has undergo urgent treatment which the doctors say could be done locally by amputation of her leg or could alternatively go to India for specialised treatment. Although her father says that he does not have the required Ksh. 3 million for specialized treatment, Mary says that she would like to go to India for her treatment and join Form One with other students.
“I want to join my dream school Kenya Hill and actualize my dream to study law,” said Mary.
Ashley Mwende is another one of the 2018 KCPE candidates who has managed to soar high despite having odds stacked against her. Ashley, a student at St. Gabriel Boarding Primary School in Mwingi lost one of her kidneys after an accident in August this year.
The 14-year old was among the pupils who survived a road crash on August 4 when their school bus was involved in a head on collision and plunged into Kanginga bridge killing nine of her colleagues. After the fatal accident, Ashley had to learn to use her left hand in preparation for her examination.
However, according to the Head Teacher Viginiah Kiilu, by the time of the KCPE exam, Ashley was miraculously able to write with her right hand again.
Ashley attributed her success to the Grace of God, prayer and hard work adding that she was happy to have excelled considering that she had not fully healed by the time the exams began.
One would wonder why anyone serving a long jail term would still bother to go through school. Of what benefit would it be for them considering that by the time they leave jail they will have probably already reached the retirement age. While the rest of us would be quick to reason like this, Solomon Ngatia, a convict at Nakuru GK Prisons serving 30 years jail term is of a different opinion.
The 37-year old managed to score 403 marks in the just released Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam results. Mr. Ngatia was convicted in 2012 for attempted murder charge after he went on a drinking spree at a pub in Nakuru when a fight broke out and his friend died.
Being a class seven drop-out, Ngatia has surprised many including himself with his exemplary performance and now says that he would like to further his education and achieve his dream of becoming a doctor.
“I am happy, this however, is beyond my expectation, despite the condition here I emerged the best,” said Ngatia.
Well, there you have it… It’s not always about the situation, it’s about what you make out of it. Always strive to make the best out of life’s struggles because they will surely come.