Receive
greetings from the son of the oracles. From my little room, pinned on my wall
is an archived newspaper dated Sunday April 18th 2010. In a short
while I will tell you the importance of that date and the story behind it. That
was the same day I had my first by-line if I may say, on a national newspaper
detailing my one week experience as a guest writer with the Young Nation.
Back
then, I was just a young Form Four student from Pumwani High School in
Eastlands but one with a passion of one day becoming an investigative
journalist.
For
now, I want to thank the Young Nation for the opportunity to be nurtured under
their incubator and learn under their wings.
Go
ahead and search for that newspaper. There I wrote about an ancient Zen proverb
that states; “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
Today,
I stand before you to raise your spirits and encourage all the Young people who
have dreams and believe in their dreams. I will examine the 4 key words in the
Zen proverb.
STUDENT:
be a student and stay open, and willing to learn from everyone and anyone. For me,
being at Young Nation desk proved that being a student of life, means you have
room fro new input. As young people; the call is upon us to avoid the pride and
curse of being experts and realize that every single person in your lifetime
has something to teach you.
READY:
be a willing student. Ready means willing. Genuinely, authentically willing. Look
for authentic opportunities out there that are in line with your dreams and
passion in life.
TEACHER:
teachers in life appear in various forms and your willingness makes the teacher
able to assist you. Being a communication student at the university, I fondly
remember what I learnt at Young Nation because I refused to ignore the teacher
but embrace my pen and notebook and jotted down everything. Your teacher can be
anything. I believe it might be a child who takes you by the hand and asks you
a question that you hadn’t considered before, and your answer to the child is
your answer to yourself.
APPEAR:
the teacher is making an appearance in everything and everyone you encounter. When
the homeless person with his soiled presence and outstretched hand reminds you
of your need to be merciful, the teacher has appeared.
Anyway,
as I was saying. Never take for granted any opportunity presented on your way. I
am sure Young Nation will be inviting young guest writers because that is their
tall order and if you are given that opportunity, grab it like a rugby ball and
make that try.
I
gracefully cover these pages with gratitude to all the great people I met while
I was there. You are more that friends. You are family. From Madam Editor Liz Gitonga
to designers like Nzissa Mulli and Andrew “omwami” Anini. The list is indeed
endless. I can’t forget Mr. Eric Shimoli, who gave me a grand opportunity to
cover a field story in the company of Mr. Bonyo at the business desk.
To
my fellow youths who believe in their dreams, the Son of Oracles expects that
you will enumerate the lessons you want to leave. Duty. Glory. Honor. Hope. And
that you will not play with the memoirs of your sacred dreams, visions and
hopes.
Finally,
what will change or kill your dream are the little things we do. You can choose
to ignore the sentiments of the people that glide before your eyes everyday. Or,
you can be a penchant that thrives because you chose to listen. The choice is
indeed ours. And so may the Good Lord help us all!
Young
Nation, for me and a legion more, we watch from a far with our pens in hand. You
are a beacon of hope and encouragement to the young nation and generation of
Kenya. The Son of Oracles vows to keep you company throughout.
To
my fellow dreamers; let us rise up and strike the darkness of hopelessness.
Cheers.
-by
Embukane Vincent Libosso, communication student at Daystar University and
blogger at Africa’s Hangout Blog.
