<div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a">
<div dir="auto">This is what it means when they say, &#8220;age is merely a number.&#8221;</div>
</div>
<div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a">
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">I came into this world on 26/10/1984, facing adversity from the very start. At the tender age of seven, I lost my father, and at 10, my mother also died, leaving me orphaned and under the care of my maternal grandparents.</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">Despite the challenges, I showed promise academically, ranking as the 3rd best in my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam in 1998.</div>
</div>
<div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a">
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">Although I faced financial constraints that led me to attend multiple day schools, I persevered. My resilience led me to complete my Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2002, where I earned a B-. Life took another challenging turn when my diabetic grandmother passed away, forcing me into an early marriage at the age of 18, due to lack of accommodation.</div>
</div>
<div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a">
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">Amid life&#8217;s hardships, a glimmer of hope emerged in 2019. Nursing my sick aunt, I encountered a kind soul who recognized my potential. Despite being a peasant farmer, he saw a nurse in me.</div>
</div>
<div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a">
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">Encouraged by his words, I took a leap of faith and joined KMTC Siaya Campus in March 2020. The journey was far from easy, especially with opposition from my family and a significant ankle injury in January this year.</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">Just two months away from my Final Qualifying Exams, I received the devastating news of my husband&#8217;s passing on while I was on rural placement. The world seemed to crumble around me, but I refused to be broken.</div>
</div>
<div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a">
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">I stand here today as a testament to the strength of a determined heart. Age, I&#8217;ve learned, is merely a number. At 39, I earned my diploma, and my journey doesn&#8217;t end here.</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">My message to every woman out there is to hold onto your dreams, regardless of the obstacles. Let&#8217;s support one another, lifting each other up instead of being stumbling blocks.</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">Together, we can change societal perceptions about KMTC. By upholding morality and doing what is right, we can reshape attitudes.</div>
</div>

