I am a final year student of diagnostic radiography at Lusaka Apex Medical University. I was born in a rural area of Kalumbila district called Musangezhi, where life was hard and opportunities were scarce. I am the third born in a family of seven, and the first child to have reached senior secondary school amongst my siblings.
My parents are subsistence farmers who struggle to provide for our basic needs. Education was not a priority for them, but they strongly encouraged me to go to school and learn as much as I could. I started my primary school at Katanga primary school in Kalumbila district, where I had to walk for several kilometres every day. The school was poorly equipped, and the teachers were not well trained. I did not have reasonable school shoes, or any school bag, so I had to rely on my open shoes and a plastic bag to provide safety to my books whenever it rained. Despite these difficulties, I loved learning, and I was eager to explore new things.
When I was in grade 2, my uncle helped me to go to school in Solwezi. I was so grateful and proud of my uncle for what he did for me but at the same time, I felt quite challenged because my English was so poor that it affected me in communication with my teachers and classmates, and eventually affected my academic performance especially in my first year there. My uncle was not worried because he understood where I came from; I could only speak one local language – Lunda – fluently. Instead, he always encouraged me to read at least one chapter of a book a day. Over the year I began to see improvements in my English writing and reading skills as well as academic performance in other subjects. My parents were extremely grateful for the job well done by my uncle.
“I believe that nothing is impossible as long as you work hard, have faith, and never give up.”
While I was at secondary school I was awarded an academic scholarship to Sentinel Kalumbila school from Educore and Trident Foundations. I was exorbitantly amazed by the warm welcome we received from the school head, Mrs. Lungu, and other staff members. The facility and the opportunities that the school and teachers provided were so extraordinary. I had access to classes, tutorials, extracurricular activities, a laboratory, a computer lab, art and music, adventurous tours and trips to other schools. I became a school prefect. I felt like I was living in a different world, and I was grateful for the chance to experience it. That was the new dawn of my life.
My graduation with IGCSEs brought much joy to my family, my teachers, my fellow students and my sponsors. After graduation, I was offered another scholarship through the Trident Foundation to Lusaka Apex Medical University. I decided to study diagnostic radiography as I am interested in the field of medical imaging and diagnosis. I want to positively contribute to the development of the health sector in Zambia and beyond and use my skills to help people. I am confident that I will perform well in my profession and make a positive impact on society. I am proud of myself and my journey, and I am thankful to everyone who has supported me along the way. I am also aware that I still have a lot to learn and achieve, and I am ready to face new challenges and opportunities. I believe that nothing is impossible as long as you work hard, have faith, and never give up.
