Journey to University: Carol
My name is Nabasumba Carol. I am the first child in my family, and a single mother raised me. Growing up, I faced numerous challenges that shaped my resilience and made me determined to pursue my dreams. When I was six, my parents separated, and my father left my mother to care for me and my two younger siblings. Due to financial struggles, my mother was forced to send me to live in the village while keeping my younger siblings with her. Life in the village was difficult. I had to work in the garden every morning before going to school, and then walk for a very long distance to reach school.
When I was 10, my mom brought me back to town, and despite financial challenges, she enrolled me in a school. However, coming from the village, I faced challenges adapting to the urban education system, especially with learning English because in the village we were taught in Luganda. I struggled to communicate with my peers and the teachers because I couldn't speak English, and this also made me very shy. Despite these challenges, I worked hard and managed to perform well in my class.
After finishing my primary education, my mom couldn't afford to send me to secondary school and she used to tell me I was going to have to drop out of school and maybe learn a technical skill. So it was exceedingly relieving to learn that I had been awarded the Action in Africa Secondary Scholarship. I did not want to drop out of school. I wanted to study and complete my education so that I could have a better chance of obtaining a good job and taking care of my family. I feel so fortunate to have received a scholarship for secondary education through Action in Africa.
The scholarship not only helped me with financial aid but also provided other programs such as holiday programs, dance, debate, spelling bees, yoga, and board games that built me physically and boosted my confidence. I benefited immensely from the debates and spelling bee programs because they helped me build my confidence and learn more English to express myself and my spelling abilities. The dance classes were always my favorite. I enjoyed them so much and they inspired me to share some of those skills I had gotten at AIA with my young siblings and also other kids in the community. For a while, I joined my friend Brian from Action in Africa to help teach dance classes.
I'm now a confident, skilled, and determined girl, ready to make a positive impact in my community and be an inspiration to other young girls with a background like mine.
After completing secondary school, I applied for a University Scholarship, and Action in Africa selected me as one of five students whose education was going to be financed. This was a dream come true for me. Before joining campus, I have been engaged in a valuable four-month internship program at The Center. I am grateful for the internship program because I have been exposed to professional work and the people at the center where I have been mentored and given career advice. I have also gained multiple professional skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, and communication, which are crucial in today’s work environment.
Today, I'm proud to say that I have been admitted to Makerere University, one of the best universities in Africa, to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce. Thanks to Action in Africa's unwavering support, I'm now a confident, skilled, and determined girl, ready to make a positive impact in my community and be an inspiration to other young girls with a background like mine. I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had and look forward to a bright future.
