THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

The events of  that day of October are still very fresh  in my mind like  the first beam of light  glittering on a sail - despite the fact that they happened exactly a decade ago. When I realized I had to sit for the exams in a sickly condition, emotions flashed across my  face like the sweep of sun-rent clouds over a quiet landscape. I knew very well that my condition was going to affect my performance. The imagination of seeing an opportunity of improving my life  melting  away like snow in a thaw, made me filled with fear and trepidation. My heart was  thumping so loud that I was sure everyone around me could hear it. I felt like I was being cornered and trapped, with no where to go.

The silence  in the exam room was eerily unnatural like a dawn devoid of bird songs. The pupils of my eyes became dilated and there was tremor in my hands. The thought of  poor performance  scared my mind  Like phantoms gathered by the sick imagination. I quickly scanned the room, avoiding eye contact with  my fellow candidates,  then went straight and sat on my desk.

As the light began to intensify, so did my misery. I struggled throughout the examination period. It was a period of misery, frustrations  and depression - at one point I had  decided to quit;  but my family and friends successfully persuaded me to complete.

When the examination period ended in November,  I hurriedly cleared with the school administration and quickly left the school premises. I got a temporary reprieve.

After three months, the Kenya National Examination  Council released the  results. It was the moment of truth. I followed  the proceedings of the ceremony far from my home village. During  the ceremony presided over  by the then Minister of Education, the council announced the top students  as well as the schools that had performed well. An SMS number was displayed for whoever wanted to get the  results  via a text message. The text messaging process  was characterized by delays occasioned by the traffic. After trying severally, I got my results - I had performed poorly.  

Many were surprised by my score, but I wasn't. It was something that  I had expected. I had to swiftly take the next course of action knowing very well that the journey ahead wasn't a walk at the park. I packed my clothes and traveled  to one of the counties which is  popular with tea growing. I wanted to be far away from my home village. I didn't want anyone to remind me of  my good academic reputation that once swelled like a sponge. I needed peace of mind even as I embarked on a journey to rewrite my  history.

Getting an admission in one of the  schools in my new destination was a big challenge. I approached the school's administration but they declined my request.Even after begging and cajoling,  my pleas fell on the deaf ears. I floundered like a huge conger-eel in an ocean of uncertainty to find a second chance. I finally settled on unpopular  alternative of doing it  independently - as ae private candidate. I had to make extra effort to improve my performance since the route I took involved doing private studies in preparation to compete with candidates who had well equipped facilities and teachers.

When the second chance arrived, it found me in a perfect  state of mind. I thank God  for the good health and the energy He gave me. I had a very peaceful time. The experience was a seismic shift from what I went through previously. I felt sheer bliss as I walked into the examination room having prepared to tackle the exams. The serene mood swept over me as I sat down in the exam room writing down answers to the questions.

I kept praying and hoping for the best each day. Three months later, The Kenya National Examinations Council released the results. I waited expectantly to receive my results via the SMS  - but as usual, it delayed. After waiting for the reply for more than twenty four hours, I decided to visit the district education offices - it was there that I received  my results. I had miraculously performed well - Glory to GOD!. Though I didn't hit the high target that I had set,the performance was a humongous improvement compared to the previous one.