"No Condition is Permanent: A Journey of Strength and Determination"?

I come from a very large family. My aunty had 14 children, my uncle had 7, my oldest aunty had 8, another aunty had 5, and my mother had 4. Out of respect for my family’s privacy, I won’t mention any names—they wouldn’t be comfortable with that.

Growing up, life was good for me. My father was a great man who cared for his family. I didn’t understand what it meant to struggle until I was 10 years old, when my father tragically passed away in the water. At the time, I had just graduated from kindergarten (K2) and was in the first grade. That was the moment I came to know the true meaning of words like hunger, poverty, and pain.

Life became very hard for my family. But even then, I could feel a fire burning deep inside me—something telling me I was meant for greater things. I didn’t know what it was, but I held onto that feeling, and I am grateful for it to this day.

To survive and continue my education, I started selling greens at a very young age. I took on the responsibility of paying my own school fees. At the same time, my family was pressuring me to get married, but I knew that wasn’t the life I wanted for myself.

In my senior year of high school, after completing 10th grade, my family tried to force me into marriage—not once, but twice. I refused to settle for a life I didn’t choose. The punishments for my defiance were harsh. Many days, I went to bed hungry. They hoped my struggles would break me and that I would give in. But I was determined. My dreams were far bigger than the circumstances around me.

After I graduated high school, I knew I couldn’t stop there. I moved to town and started selling water to make a living. It was during this time that I came across a scholarship opportunity. I applied, and to my joy and relief, I was accepted. This scholarship allowed me to begin pursuing my Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.

The journey has not been easy. Life demands difficult decisions, and sometimes, those decisions come back to challenge us. But by God’s grace, I have persevered. Next year, I will proudly become a BSc degree holder.

Out of all my siblings and cousins, only two of us managed to graduate high school, and I will be the first—and only—one to earn a university degree. My sisters all have children of their own now, but I took a different path, one filled with trials and triumphs.

Looking back, I can say this with certainty: no condition is permanent.