The Fire You Were Born To Own

It is fairly easy to get what you want out of life

Under the streetlight is where I wrote the previous five stories you’ve seen me share here. After publishing last week’s story, I decided to tidy up my house. To my surprise, I found a $10 note in my jeans and used it to buy paraffin for my tiny wick lamp — the tool I am using to write this story. Despite the paraffin in my lamp depleting over time, my ambition persists. Each time I accomplish something noteworthy, like everyone else, I am always ready for the next level.

I can best describe this through a story of how I ended up joining the University of Toronto.

While at school, I feared not knowing my next step after graduation. Worldwide, many graduates finish university — be it undergraduate, master, or Ph.D. — and face a lack of immediate job opportunities. It’s a longstanding problem, and I don’t see it leaving soon. This fear stuck in my head, compelling me to plan my next move every time I finished school. The approach was the same for my undergraduate and master’s.

After finishing my undergraduate, I didn’t want to return and stay with the guardians I lived with, so I planned to secure a job before graduation.

Makerere University had a policy: complete studies a year before graduation, then spend that time clearing with all university departments. My strategy was to look for a job while going through this clearance.

I looked around, and I couldn’t get interviews. I faced rejection 120 times. I experienced the pain most graduates feel before landing their first job until I switched my strategy and tapped into my network.

Approaching my mentor, who helped me land my first job, was a turning point. It was with the Uganda Women Lawyers Association, commonly known as FIDA. I worked there for a year, joining when it had no established IT department. I started as an intern, initially supposed to work for three months, but I made sure to overperform within the first month.

My exceptional performance changed their minds. A team that initially planned to have me for three months was now ready to bring me on board as the IT department Lead for at least three years.

I started a job and chose not to go back home. Deceptively, I informed my guardians that I had secured a contract in a town called Gulu, even though I resided in Kyengera, which was five hours away, making daily commuting impractical. I conveyed that I wouldn’t return for a while but assured them of occasional visits.

With my clothes and a 1-inch mattress packed, my friend William assisted me in relocating. We travelled to Mutungo, near another town, Mbuya, where the head offices of my new job were situated. And this marked the beginning of my solo living journey.

I managed to cover all my expenses, but after some time, I realized I wasn’t saving anything. All the money I made went into street food, transportation, and rent. At this point, I felt ready to initiate the next phase of my growth journey, where I set my sights on two goals: launching a business and pursuing graduate studies.

I had a close friendship with Charles, who secured eight fully-funded scholarships for a Ph.D. in the UK and the USA straight from undergraduate — an unusual achievement. His success inspired me to redouble my pursuit of a master’s degree alongside my business endeavours.

I had a list of infinite institutions worldwide to apply to, but I dropped all other applications, focusing only on the University of Toronto. I read somewhere that it’s the best University in Canada, ranked 20-something globally. The same scholarship I studied at my Advanced level and undergraduate was open for a pilot group of seven students from the African continent to join the University of Toronto.

Honestly, I didn’t have top-notch grades to enter this prestigious institution. My grades were below average, and I couldn’t afford the $200 application fee required of every applicant. Nevertheless, I persevered, putting a lot of effort into my essays. I then sent them to the university and scholarship admissions office, accompanied by an email explaining my keen interest in pursuing a master’s degree in Toronto and expressing my financial constraints regarding the application fee.

After three days, they responded that they had waived my application fee. At that moment, I felt destined for this opportunity.

The other goal of starting a business was to reach a stage where I would receive at least $17,182.39 as initial funding. Unfortunately, I achieved the goal of acquiring a master’s degree first, leading me to join the University of Toronto.

A couple of things here: if you want something and you put a foot into it, there’s no way you can fail to achieve it. Many other things inspired me as I was applying for my application. I saw so many luck incidents happening, and these are what I’ll be able to share with you in my next story.

The paraffin in my tiny wick lamp has a few seconds left to run out. See you next time!

Hit that clap button as if it owes you money — it’s the online equivalent of making it rain but with gratitude! No need to worry; your secret is safe with me if you decide to over-clap (x50).

Author’s Note.

This story is woven from the threads of real-life experiences. The character you met, Kuku Caravan, is inspired by my personal story and the people around us. Sometimes, life surprises us with extraordinary moments, and these stories capture the nature of those moments.

What happens next? Well, that’s a mystery yet to unfold. Stay tuned for the next thrilling chapter! Your favourite character has more surprises in store.

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