Becoming an Influencer.

Today, let me introduce you to Kadzo. A young girl who unexpectedly found herself appointed as a person of influence. Her journey to this moment wasn’t smooth or easy, but before we dive into how she became a leader, let me take you through her story.

Kadzo was a bright, pretty little girl, but she was also shy and incredibly thoughtful. She lived in the beautiful country of Kenya, a place where the landscapes are as diverse as the people. Like many other children, Kadzo had dreams. She studied hard and sat for her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), doing exceptionally well. However, her news of success came with a delay—she didn’t receive her results until a month later than her peers. The reason? She had fee arrears. Her parent hadn’t been able to pay off her school fees in time. It was a bitter-sweet moment for Kadzo, but her parent was still incredibly proud of her accomplishments.

Despite the setback, Kadzo’s thoughts quickly turned to the next step: high school. It wasn’t supposed to be her responsibility, but Kadzo found herself worrying about the future. She knew that her parent was already struggling as it is, now her parent would have to factor I her high school expenses. After two months, when most students had already joined their new schools, Kadzo finally made her way to a distant school that she had never heard of before which had also taken her parent time to find. This school was far from home, in a place so unfamiliar that it only added to the nervousness building inside her.

This was a new chapter in her life—a chapter where Kadzo would have to leave behind the comfort of her home as she knew it. Made up of her mother, herself and their humble home. Boarding school was something she had never experienced before, and the idea of being away from everything she knew left her scared and anxious. Luckily, her new school had a thoughtful program where every new student was assigned a “school mother,” an older student who would guide them through the process of settling in. This was a small comfort for Kadzo, who had never faced such a huge change in her life.

The first day was overwhelming. Kadzo had to adapt to a new routine that seemed like a world away from her old life. She learned that a metal trunk was her only means of storing everything—her clothes, books, snacks, and all the little things that once cluttered their home. She had to sleep in a thin metallic double-decker bed that would sway and make noises whenever she made any slight movements and on a mattress that was too thin that she would feel the metallic part of the bed on the other end. She quickly learned how to eat meals in less than 15 minutes and how to have supper at 5:30 pm, a schedule that felt incredibly too early for her. In the midst of all these changes, Kadzo questioned how she would survive, but somehow, she did.

Even with all the changes, Kadzo excelled academically. She continued to perform well in her studies, impressing her teachers. Her mother, though far away, was proud to hear that her daughter was doing well. In recognition of her efforts, Kadzo received shopping vouchers as a reward for her hard work from the school, and this was where her story took another turn. Her teachers, recognizing her potential and dedication, appointed her as a school prefect, specifically the timekeeper.

Kadzo was confused and terrified. Being a school prefect was a big responsibility, and it meant she had to enforce rules among her peers—something she had never imagined herself doing. She was shy, unsure of her ability to lead, and terrified of being disliked. She feared that by being a prefect, she would have to make tough decisions that could alienate her from the very students she wanted to connect with as much as she was still shy. The weight of the role felt overwhelming. Something that could be challenging in a community where cliques and peer influence were ever-present not to mention Kadzo was a “people pleaser”.

Kadzo like many of us have sometimes hesitated to embraced the role of being a leader. We are often the ones who complain about the leaders we have, (I too I’m guilty as charged) pointing fingers or quietly staying on the sidelines avoiding any involvement with leadership-whether in small groups or large groups, in our families or in our workspaces. We like to remain aloof, (still guilty as charged). But it is time we recognize that, just like Kadzo we all have potential of being a person of influence, a leader. All we need is to work on ourselves and have really good guidance from those that we admire (other people we consider to be persons of influence in our lives). We need to unleash the leader within and fulfill our mission by inspiring others to follow in our vision and hopefully make the world a better place.

Welcome to my first ever story to be publicized. For more stories like this…………please stick around.