Rising Star

Rising Star: Happy Sad Week: The Journal of a Working Masters S... : Dear Diary, The last week has been one of sorts. It felt almost like the universe had decided to work against me. I will talk of two thing...

Dear Diary, The last week has been one of sorts. It felt almost like the universe had decided to work against me. I will talk of two things: Examinations and Deaths. Dear Diary, since the year started i have lost several friends, a relative and acquaintances.  Never have i been devastated by the occurrence of events. It started with the killing of the hubby to my friend by Al Shabaab in Somalia. It was too painful because barely a month ago had i been a maid in their wedding. You can imagine the shock when i learnt of his death; they had barely lived as a married couple! And  then, Dear Diary, on a Friday that had gone so well and we were all looking forward to the weekend, i receive a message at 0100 a.m that a friend and a colleague whom we had been with during the day had passed on through a grisly road accident. I was truly devastated and that was a night of nightmares of sorts! Dear Diary, Oscar was just like me; shuttling to and from Kisumu to attend classes just l...

 Dear Diary, I am a perfectionist and when i set my might to do or achieve something, i really go for it. I always do not want to stumbling blocks to come my way. Do not get me wrong, though, i do welcome challenges because they teach me something new. Dear Diary, i have always loved reading. When i was young, i would read anything i would lay my hands on. The number of novels i have read are countless. My reading culture was a known fact starting from my primary school days up to my undergraduate. And it all paid because i always excelled. But, Dear Diary, reading has proved to be quite tiresome and tasking in my postgraduate. I can barely concentrate for thirty minutes. My mind is always on a multi-tasking mode; i want to read, watch a movie, visit friends, listen to music all at the same time. So, you can imagine, Dear Diary, how disappointed i was when, after trying my best to prepare for my first semester postgraduate examinations, it is postponed at the last minute. I was...

Dear Diary, This one article is in tribute to specific people who have helped me in this journey. They have contributed immensely in one way or the other to keep me sane. Almighty God, without whom i would not have the inner strength to keep on especially when the going gets tough.  For granting me the grace to trudge on, for provision of financial and material needs, for protection during the numerous and sometimes late journeys i undertake on Kenyan roads, for sake keeping of my health and sanity. My parents, for believing in me and affirming the strength i possess to be able to hold on steadfastly even in difficult circumstances. For standing in awe at my achievements and urging me on. Most significantly, though, for being faithful in their prayers for me. My boss, the Vice Chancellor, for giving me permission to study and attend classes. For allowing me to work half days for better part of the days of the week. For asking every now and then how my classes are going on. ...

Dear Diary, What you need to know is that i travel quite a distance to attend the classes. I could not enrol for the course at the University where i work because they do not offer it. Therefore, the University where i am studying is the nearest. The other option would have been to wait for another one year or so before starting my Masters which would have meant that a lot of things in my life would have been put on hold. So, twice i have gone to class and bounced. Remember, Dear Diary, that that is the use of money and time. When such happens, i have to travel back to my workplace, almost about 130km or 80.4 miles to and fro. You see Dear Diary, i have to be back at work every morning. My classes start at 1630pm and end at 2000pm, i then sleep over and travel back the next morning at 0600am to reach my workplace at 0800am. I do these almost three times in a week. When classes bounce, Dear Diary, i have to travel back that same night. On one o...

Dear Diary, Do you know that i applied to study this Masters almost two months before it was to officially start? You can imagine the shock i got when they told me that i had not paid the application fee. Sincerely, Dear Diary, who in his/her right mind applies to study and then forgets to pay the application fee? Well, that is what i was told when the my admission letter was not forthcoming. I had to travel to the College to check on this issue because i was getting impatient and worried. I do not know how to call it but i was really disappointed when i realised that a receipt had been written in my favor but that it passed the notice of the administrators whon were to write my letter. I let that pass. The worst of it all is when i was told that i was late for admission. I mean, was it my fault that no one saw the receipt attached to my application forms? Was i the one to blame? Was i negligent? I did not let this one pass. To cut the long story short, i received my admission le...

Truthfully, Dear Diary, i really wanted to go back to class. I like reading and studying; i really do. It is preposterous that i almost took a whole five years before starting my Masters. But, i had reasons why i could not start; reasons beyond my control. You see, Dear Diary, i firmly believe in the Bible. So, i believe it when it says 'All things work together for good to those who love the Lord.". I think i was meant to start my Masters this year because everything else has fallen into place. My Boss gave me permission to attend class almost three days in a week. Please note, Dear Diary, that not many bosses would do that given to the fact that i have to work half day on those days. I call that FAVOUR! Although my admission to the School of Human Resource at Moi University to study a Master of Philosophy in Communication Studies had some difficulties but i finally got there. I have some few people to be grateful to but i will mention them later. I just wanted you to k...