“Disappointments today, may be appointments for tomorrow.”
I speak fondly about this today in my professional circles but what many don’t realize is this has much more to do with 2014-2015. I had accidentally learnt of my results (through a mailer to parents) and now, it pained more realizing that I wouldn’t be returning back to the school that had groomed me to be one of the top 10 learners at ‘O’ level. The school fees at that school were out of reach at that moment, so where was the next best? In a fortnight, I was at this “college high school” which many despised. However, I was content and felt particularly confident in my red blazer and black pants. As we started the Lower 6th form, I was most impacted by the hospitality and keen interest the lecturers had in my personal and educational development.
Having had a number of personal challenges that had bruised my confidence and outlook, I needed role models, mentors and advisors to perform to my supposed full potential. I had that and more. I remember vividly one of my encounters of ‘not what you want to hear, but need to hear’ advice from Ms. Mwale after an interest expressed in one particular extra-curricular activity. The school offered various exciting, well supported activities and some involving interschools engagements. This particular one, coupled with my ‘demanding’ curriculum - ‘something had to give,” she shared! I made my choice, consciously, but what was amazing was that, not once, did I run out of support. They were there, all the way through. I look back at this, and realize what I can learn from it. In all we do, this world needs and wants a lot from us, prioritizing means something will have to give. Something ‘nice’ may need to be sacrificed for something essential. That is training for excellence, for a life time.
Through my tenure at Trust Academy, I got attached with number of values that have become prominent in my professional career today:
- Excellence – When I was appointed Headboy in 2015, it was a childhood dream come true. But, to whom much is given, much is expected. I remember every initiative we implemented, excellence was non-negotiable. Today, excellence in my training programmes at work; it is non-negotiable. That is training for excellence for a lifetime.
- Team work – Subsequent to my appointment, I had to learn to work with others. The adage, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go with others.” I am naturally a fast-paced individual, but through the debates and arguments, the regular probing visits to Mr. Murimi taught me to value the collective experience and qualities. Only then did I realize I was amongst the best leaders as prefects. Today, I lead teams across Southern Africa and it is wonderful when we perform beyond expectation. Our other departments wonder how I do it, they don’t realize I was trained.
- Innovation – I studied economics. Resources are limited, needs and wants are unlimited. This calls for the effective allocation of resources. As I led the LEOs group - there were so many initiatives we needed to do, but the resources were clearly limited. We had to be innovative. Identifying how best we can serve the less privileged and make an impact without the then focus on financial limitation. That experience, was training for life. Today, I run an Entrepreneurs hub that speaks to this.
You see, what I thought at the beginning of my journey at Trust Academy would be a downward spiral in my development, it turned out to be a lifetime experience that I will cherish. The lecturers, the senior management and general staff made my experience a great launchpad to the great big world hence a huge return on investment for my parents.
Hence, disappointments today may be appointments for tomorrow.
Congratulations to the servant leaders that continue to impart excellence in every student. This is to 25 years of creating a legacy in lives. I am grateful for the privilege to have been a part.
Andrew Tsuro
Headboy 2015
LEO President 2015
