Most of us parents worry about what a child will become tomorrow. We are so consumed with moulding their lives and creating their paths.
So immersed in bringing the best of us, which we missed on exploiting, through them. We see a reflection of ourselves in them and believe that they will be a better version of us.
A note left by my little girl - now all grown up - opened my eyes. Linda. She spoke to us and it was worth listening to.
Linda came home on the last evening after the KCSE exams were over. She rushed into her mother's arms first, before saying hi to her brother and then me.
You should have seen her hug her mother. The two intertwined and looked into each other’s eyes. I could see the love in my wife’s eyes, as she felt proud of her daughter.
“You are now a grown-up. Look at you, ready for life on campus right?” my wife Tess said as my son and I unpacked her belongings. I’d picked her up at school and she was very excited about her next step.
“How were the exams?” my wife Tess asked as we sat down for dinner that day.
“It was amazing. The extra tuition I had during the pandemic helped,” Linda stated as she drank some juice from the wine glass.
“I hope you didn’t rush through the papers…” I weighed in but she cut me short.
“Yes, pa. In fact, I prayed and always took my time to read the questions,” my daughter stated with that beautiful smile, copyright of my wife, Tess.
We all loved dinner together, roasted meat, rice, veggies, chapati, juices for the kids and wine for me and Tess. All of us sitting in front of the telly, laughing at a local comedy show.
My young boy dropped some rice on the floor, and the cat picked up the food after leaving some fish pellets on its plate. My daughter Linda attempted to speak with her mouth full of toast.
Such a lovely day to celebrate a daughter’s milestones. I turned and looked at the windows welcoming the passage of light, lighting the dining room at 6 pm.
I wanted to talk to Linda about her career choice but I didn’t know if it was the right time. Yes, I understand she picked her courses in school and was waiting to revise them, but I wanted to know what she was pursuing.
I am a professional doctor. I followed in my parent's footsteps. My wife is a teacher and a part-time musician. I hoped Linda would choose any of these.
She had spoken of a course in Law or Business, something about digital courses and the world changing, but I wanted to pick her mind.
There are some conversations all parents are keen on avoiding early and wait until the ripe time - Mark you, I haven’t said the right time.
“So what do you wanna study in campus?” I asked, out of the blue.
Have you ever wondered what goes on inside people’s heads when there is a sudden silence? What do they think of you? What their response is gonna be like?
All of these are like a sudden rush of oncoming traffic released from a traffic light, rushing to beat the one minute mark before hitting pause at another turn.
“Baby, can’t you even let her rest for one night?” my wife Tess interjected.
“But I just wanna know, or am I wrong to ask?” I asked.
“We spoke about this, don’t ruin the night. She isn’t doing any medicine or music. You put too much pressure on the kids, babe. At least listen to her once.” Tess….
I was overwhelmed. My wife and I rarely had a fight in front of the kids. Linda, my daughter, walked away. Whenever she was angry, she would always walk away to take a breather.
She left a note behind. She sent her mother a text.
I am going for a walk and I hope pap listens to me when I am back Ma. I have done all I can to make him happy. Been a good girl at school, and I know I will perform well
This text broke my heart. From it, I learned that while we try to teach our children all about life, they teach us what life is all about.
I went to bed early and promised to speak to her in the morning.
At 7 am, she was seated next to our bed. My wife Tess and I woke up, quite sleepy.
“It’s quite early Linda. Can we speak later on?” I asked.
“No paps, I wanna talk to you now. I already made breakfast.”
That's the point where as a parent, you dread for the worst or hope for the best.
We had a silent breakfast and then the bombshell.
“I want to do Law like Uncle Jerry (my elder brother) or Business like Aunt Loui (My wife’s sister).
My wife and I didn’t speak. We listened.
“Uncle Jerry and my class teacher introduced me to Riara University and that is where my heart wants to go. I know you wanted me to follow in your footsteps but talk to Uncle Jerry and he’ll tell you why Riara is the best,” Linda said, she was so courageous.
I thought she would cry. I called my brother.
“You aren't angry I spoke to her on the course bro?” Jerry asked.
“No, you are like her father. Tell me about Riara University. I wanna know why you recommended it to her and why my daughter loves it,” I asked.
Jerry said that Riara University though a young institution had created a very strong niche in the area of Law. Their programme was fully accredited by the Commission for University Education and the Council of Legal Education since 2012 and they use very different teaching approaches such as The Socratic Method and Case Method that do not seek to spoon-feed students but rather help them to discover themselves and to construct their own learning through facilitation by faculty trained from world-class universities.
They also host very many guest lecturers who are leading legal minds locally and globally helping students to connect their learning with real-life practice locally and internationally. I even saw recently they have started a Legal Talk Series on current legal trends with TripleOKLaw Advocates, a leading law firm in Kenya.
He also told me that Riara University was also the only university accredited by the Council of Legal Education (CLE) in Kenya to offer the Pre-Kenya School of Law Compliance programme, a programme meant to assist Kenyan students who have graduated with Law degrees from universities abroad to meet the requirements of CLE for admission to the Kenya School of Law.
The fact that Riara Law School trains graduates from universities in the UK, US, Asia, and other African countries is a testament to the high calibre of training that goes on there.
Their own graduates have also gone ahead to gain admission and graduate from world-class universities such as Harvard Law School with higher Law degrees.
At this point, I felt like I could join the University myself and Jerry quickly told me that the University was currently running its May 2022 intake for all 2021 and 2022 KCSE candidates. Even those who finished prior and have been pursuing short courses are eligible to join.
“Before I break down the programme, you ought to know that International curricula students are also eligible for any of the Courses offered”. Jerry quipped.
“Orientations are in May and June and students are trickling in to join different courses, from diplomas to degrees. Linda can also enjoy blended learning through the University’s Online Learning Management System”.
“This means she studies both physically and online from the comfort of your home. The campus also has a very cosmopolitan student population with students from over 20 nationalities and diverse cultures. Linda will learn a lot, even as she pursues Law or Business, she can do music at Riara University Studios travel the world, and experience different cultures. The school is an eye-opener and the best,” Jerry said.
My brother always knew I never turned down his advice. He was always informed and as a lawyer, recommending Riara University was a piece of advice to hold in high regard.
Jerry sent a link to the website and added a text.
A tracer study carried out in 2019 indicated that 79.3% of Riara University graduates are employed or start up their own businesses and 23.9% further their studies, meaning about 93% of their graduates are actively engaged somewhere within one year of graduation, with 50% getting placed before graduation. Let her pursue her dream, Bro.
Tess, my wife and I sat with our daughter Linda and perused the courses at Riara. Diverse courses.
For a Bachelor of Laws, a candidate ought to have a mean grade of C+ and with B Plain either in English/or Kiswahili.
I realised Linda wanted to pursue Law after we spoke with a careers coach at Riara University. I called the number 0703038000 and the coach was helpful and provided insightful details on what to consider before settling for a course.
We also learnt that Linda could do more short courses as she pursued her Law Course.
To apply for her enrollment, we filled out the application form and delivered it to Riara University and paid an application fee of Kshs 2,000. You can download the form here.
And also access the course brochure here.
“Alright, follow your dreams mummy. Your mother and I are going to enrol you right away for the May to June 2022 intake,” I rested my case.
Linda hugged me close. I could feel the happiness in her. “I am going to make you proud,” she said and hugged her mother.
“Yes my Lord, amicus curiae here,” I said some Law jargon, I don't even know their meaning as we laughed. One happy family.
Indeed children are not things to be moulded but are people to be unfolded. I continue to believe that if we give them the necessary tools to succeed, they will elevate beyond their wildest dreams.
It's time to let them explore their dreams, and chase their passion but under our guidance.
“I am going to do music too like mum on my part-time,” Linda added as she raced to her room. At least she chose something also from our menu.
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To speak to a career coach at Riara University, call 0703 038 000.
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Payment for application fee and school fees may be paid by direct deposit into the RIARA UNIVERSITY Account at any branch of the following banks:
Kenya Commercial Bank, A/C No. 1132688035, Prestige Branch
NCBA, A/C No. 6960380019, Upperhill Branch
MPESA Paybill No. 805702.
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