When I first met Anne, I never knew she would one day become someone I look up to. She was just an ordinary lady, 5'4 tall, dressed in a tie and dye batik dress and hair neatly plaited. It was after a get together at a family friend's home that I got to know her and our friendship begun.
Anne comes from a humble background. She grew up in Kitui district where her parents struggled to keep her in school but somehow through the generosity of family and friends, she managed to finish school. She then moved to Nairobi to do a secretarial course. It wasn't long before love interrupted her studies and she got married to James with whom they have three children. She abandoned her studies for sometime to take care of her family but went back to school after two years to complete her secretarial course.
What strikes me most about her is that today; she is not a secretary as was expected of her after taking a secretarial course. She has risen to become an influential lady in society with a curriculum vitae similar to a small booklet. Her achievements include sitting on the boards of several national organizations. She also runs two businesses, one a road contruction company dealing mainly in the construction of rural roads and a bakery within the central business district.
On weekends she spares time from her busy schedule to mentor young girls who are either in college or have finished school and are ready for employment. Through her mentorship programme, she has managed to positively influence the lives of many young ladies some of whom are well known personalities in Kenya.
Anne is strong, energetic and focused knowing too well that no task is impossible. When I meet her once in a while, she dares me to think some bold new thoughts, trust life a little more and unlearn some things I have been taught in order to soar.
No comments:
Post a Comment