Journey to the future has just begun

• New Form One girls determined to trudge on amid confusion and home-sickness

To underscore her financial problems, it was not until late last month that Immaculate’s dream of reporting to school before today’s deadline was guaranteed.

Lady luck smiled at her in the name of Equity Bank, which offered to pay her school fees. Although her mother carried the heavy tin box for her, a heavier burden hang on Immaculate’s small shoulders — the burden of great expectations.

Her mother says she expects no less than an A grade at Mary Hill. And since she was the best at her primary school, teachers and the community back home expect nothing short of university qualification.

The first day

And on the first day at Mary Hill, the school principal, Ms Barasa, laid down what she expected of her: in four years, she must produce an A.

“On admission, I calculate the entry behaviour for each student, and I personally sit down with them, and tell them what I expect at the end of four years,’ Ms Barasa said.

“Those who came in with an A must produce the same grade at Form Four.”

And although she made the young student aware of what is expected of her both in performance and school behaviour, Ms Barasa’s 17-years experience as a school principal tells her to watch out for signs of burnout in new students.

This, and peer pressure, she says, can easily blight the young girl’s future. The first three days in school were hectic.

First there were a series of orientation meetings with various heads of departments. And on the second day, Immaculate was taken through career options.

On the third day, she had to rush to Upper Hill, Nairobi, where her sponsor, Equity Bank, held a workshop for its beneficiaries.