18 Years Today Moment

As I sit here, with September 7th, 2025, coming tomorrow to mark eighteen years since my graduation, my heart dances with joy, reflecting on a journey woven with academic milestones, fierce challenges, and unyielding resilience that carried me through. This milestone, celebrated on that radiant day, isn’t just about the moment I crossed the stage on September 7th, 2007; it’s about every step, every struggle, every triumph that shaped a story of grit, grace, and unstoppable determination. As a mother, wife, career woman, and scholar, I balanced life’s beautiful chaos with a heart full of purpose, and this is my celebration of that legacy, made even more vivid by the memory of losing all my personal things during the rehearsal day on September 6th, 2007

The journey began with a bold spark, the decision to pursue this degree amidst the whirlwind of life. Motherhood delayed my starting point temporarily. The determination remained. My third baby, too young to understand my resolve, filled my days with necessary disruptions and the joyful chaos of raising her and her two older siblings, whose needs were as time-sensitive as they were precious. Being a wife meant nurturing a partnership in the midst of books. My reading habits transformed me into someone who values time. Late nights became sacred, my desk bathed in the soft glow of a lamp, the world hushed as I dove into textbooks, each page a step toward mastery. Those sleepless nights weren’t just sacrifices; they were badges of courage, proof I could keep going. Carving out time for studies was my first challenge, like solving a puzzle with no edge.

My career demanded focus, pushing me to excel while carving its own path. However, I found a rhythm, a dance of purpose that held it all together. The academic path was magical, full of milestones and hurdles. I remember the thrill of my first victories: cracking a tough concept and submitting a draft project that poured out my heart. Each presentation delivered was a milestone, a moment to whisper, “I did this.” But the road wasn’t smooth. Intense economic theories of education, demand and supply for education and complex equations in Gary Becker's [the economist, 1992 Nobel Prize Winner RIP] ideas tested my limits, sometimes leaving me staring at pages that refused to make sense. Keeping up with deadlines set by my supervisors was a constant challenge. My supervisors constantly challenged me. One of them was sharp like a laser wire. Most of the citations in my work were people he knew personally. One time I misspelt the name of one of them, haiya! Didn't I disappoint him? 

Thank you, Professor. 

You shaped my academic thoroughness. 

Could I be sufficient for my children, my spouse, and my career while still achieving excellence? Impostor syndrome crept in, whispering I didn’t belong, while financial pressures and my children's demands added weight. Nevertheless, I pushed through, leaning on professors, mentors, and my own stubborn resolve. Every moment of clarity, every nod from the professor, and every late-night debate with myself and my internet friends, who became family, served as milestones, illustrating my perseverance.

The quiet challenges, such as the mental struggle between guilt and ambition, the fear of failure, and the exhaustion of juggling it all, were equally real. The rehearsal day, September 6th, 2007, stands out as a perfect snapshot of this juggle. Arms full of my personal belongings, including my bag, a camera, and some money, I was rushing through the chaos of preparing for the big day. All stolen! It was a whirlwind, but I managed, just as I had through every other challenge. That moment, though hectic, was a testament to my ability to keep it all together, a prelude to the triumph of graduation. I learnt to prioritise, to let go of perfection, and to celebrate small wins, like a hard-fought battle or a draft submitted on time. Scholarships, e-books, and sheer determination eased the financial strain. Those struggles weren’t just obstacles; they were the fire that refined me, turning doubts into determination.

Graduation day, September 7th, 2007, was pure magic, a crescendo when years of effort bloomed into joy as I walked across that stage, the memory of the previous day’s rehearsal chaos fading into a smile. It was a victory over every challenge, a testament to the woman who danced through life’s demands with courage. But the journey didn’t end there. These eighteen years since, now culminating in this radiant anniversary, have been a living legacy. I’ve used my degree to inspire, to build, and to guide others, turning academic milestones into real-world impact. Every career triumph, every moment I balanced family and ambition, every time I paused to marvel at how far I’ve come, these are milestones too, threads in a generational story of resilience.

The result is my story, a celebration of a woman who chased dreams with everything she had. Each milestone, including the first concept criticised with harsh words like "it is jumbled and lacking directions," the first defence, and the second and final comment, "you can go to the field," tested me. Additionally, every challenge, from sleepless nights to the hectic rehearsal day with all my personal belongings, stolen, shines like a beacon of what’s possible when passion meets purpose. On this glorious September 7th, as I celebrate eighteen years, I honour the laughter, the tears, the quiet victories, and the moments that left me speechless. Here’s to me, to the late nights over textbooks, the friendships forged in study sessions, the strength that turned hurdles into triumphs, and the legacy that continues to light up my world and inspire those around me. Cheers to a journey that sparkles with resilience and joy!

Congratulations, Wambui!