The high school dropout is now a Master!

Not a lot of people know this about me, but I failed Grade 11 and dropped out of High School in Grade 12. I don't usually talk about dropping out of high school because it is not something I am proud of, and I had made a decision a long time ago that it would not be something that defines who I am. However, I am bringing it up now to highlight two very important lessons that I hope will leave a positive impact on you.

1. Life is not always straightforward.

When I failed Grade 11, it wasn't because I was incapable or not smart enough. In fact, I was a Straight A student for most of my schooling and did exceedingly well in Maths, English, and Biology. But a lot was happening in my family life that shook my 15-year-old self into a cycle of depression and self-destruction. To the world, it looked like I was rebellious and ill-disciplined. In reality, I was lost, overwhelmed, and struggling with challenges that nothing and no one could have ever prepared me for.

Life does not always follow the neat trajectory we imagine. Sometimes, even the most promising paths are interrupted by obstacles that test our resilience. My failure was not a measure of my intelligence or potential—it was a result of circumstances beyond my control at the time. I want anyone reading this to know that setbacks do not define you. It is what you choose to do after them that shapes your future.

2019 Graduation

2. When you want something hard enough, it is usually within reach.

Despite my delay in academics in 2019 I graduated from undergrad 😊 and in 2022, I enrolled for a Master's Degree. The first qualification was to prove a point to myself, and also rewrite my story with education. It was also an attempt to return to myself- the go getting, hardworking intelligent young woman I knew myself to be. And I did!

The Masters, however, was a passion project. I chose to pursue something close to my heart, and low and behold, I excelled beyond my expectations. I passed all my modules with 70% and above! This was no easy feat. I've never imagined that studying as a working mom would be easy, so I pretty much knew what I was getting myself into. This experience reinforced an invaluable lesson—resilience is everything. No matter where you start, no matter the detours you take, if you are truly passionate about something and committed to seeing it through, success is inevitable.

Our past does not dictate our future, and no single moment of failure should hold us hostage forever. You are allowed to rewrite your story. You are allowed to reclaim the narrative and turn what once seemed like an insurmountable failure into a stepping stone for greatness.

If someone had told my 2008 self—the one doing absolutely nothing with her life—that she would be here today, achieving, thriving, and walking in her purpose, I would have dismissed them as a Pollyanna.

But here I am, living my ancestors' wildest dreams and pursuing my own with all the faith in the world. And most importantly, refusing to be defined by my past.

The high school dropout is now a master! And if I can do it, so can you.

Choose what you want to be known for, and pursue it relentlessly.