In 2005 when I was in fourth form at Starehe Boys' Centre, I wanted to pursue my university education abroad. So I went to Mr. Paul Mugo, our senior master, and told him something about studying overseas, most likely the Japanese scholarship that some fourth formers of previous years had won.
Mr. Mugo took note of what I told him because later on (around October), he told me about a scholarship that had opened up for one Starehian to study at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). Needless to say, he wanted me to take advantage of that scholarship.
To qualify for it, I sent a résumé that a fellow fourth former called Beneah Kombe helped me write. Actually, it was Beneah who wrote the résumé. Boy, didn't I envy his good command of the English language!
A few weeks or so later, I received a fat envelope from WashU - the kind that applicants get when top American colleges admit them. I can't recall how I felt upon receiving the fat envelope, but I must have thought I was destined to fly to America in a few months time.
When I opened it, I learnt that, yes, I had been awarded the scholarship, but I would receive it only if I got admitted to WashU. And you probably know what it takes to get into top American colleges like WashU: filling in forms, writing essays, blah, blah, blah.
Well, I would have filled in the forms and written the essays but what made me give up applying to WashU was the cost of SAT and TOEFL exams. Not even the Starehe administration could help me. With that, I lost a great opportunity to pursue my university education abroad.
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RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed this story, you might also enjoy "My First Major Setback".
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A Great Opportunity I Lost
A True Story
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