Lady who dropped out of Kenya Excessive Faculty to change into a hawker excels in KCSE

She had given up on secondary faculty schooling regardless of initially being in one of many top-performing faculties within the nation.

Margaret Baliseneka was a pupil on the prestigious Kenya Excessive Faculty in Nairobi when she dropped out on account of variations between her dad and mom.

She went on to change into a hawker and nightclub attendant in Kilifi County, the place she did a number of different menial jobs for a residing.

Nonetheless, she was satisfied to return to highschool a 12 months later and she or he proved her brilliance by sitting for the 2023 Kenya Certificates of Secondary Schooling (KCSE) exams in Bridgewater Women’ Excessive Faculty in Njoro, Nakuru County and excelling to set the stage for her to pursue her dream profession.

Ms Baliseneka was among the many high performers within the nation, posting a formidable imply grade of A- within the 2023 KCSE exams.

She overcame insurmountable odds wandering within the unfamiliar terrain of Kilifi County, after she tried to flee from the poisonous setting of her household in Kakamega County.

She dropped out of faculty in 2020 in Kind Three at Kenya Excessive Faculty and set off on a journey to the unknown. She resulted in up the coastal city of Kilifi.

The firstborn little one within the household of two felt she had had sufficient of her dad and mom’ endless disagreements, which she says denied her peace of thoughts.

“I used to be disturbed by their endless feuds which made my keep at dwelling very uncomfortable. All I wished was to have a contented household,” Baliseneka recounts.

On arrival in Kilifi, she sought shelter from a random household, which fell for her lies of being an orphan.

From there she started in search of employment and began by working at a development website for a number of days. From her earnings, she saved some cash and began hawking sweets.

“For 3 months I used to be simply promoting snacks and fries whereas staying with the household. I didn’t care what individuals thought of me as all I cared for was my life,” she says.

Later she met and befriended somebody who labored at an leisure joint. The pal linked her to her bosses who agreed to make use of Baliseneka on the membership as a waitress.

“I labored on the membership for eight months for a month-to-month wage of Sh12,000. That was sufficient for me at the moment and I assumed I had began my life afresh,” mentioned Ms Baliseneka.

Again dwelling, her dad and mom appeared in every single place for her and even reported her disappearance to the police.

The police traced her to the membership in December 2021 and arrested her. However earlier than she could possibly be ferried again to Kakamega, her dad and mom had been summoned and suggested to get the providers of a counsellor and search remedy along with their daughter.

Finally, Baliseneka agreed to return to highschool and keep along with her aunt in Njoro as her dad and mom resolved their points.

That’s how she was joined Bridgewater Women Excessive Faculty in Njoro, Nakuru County, the place she shortly settled in and sat the 2023 KCSE examinations.

“I used to be made the top woman within the faculty and I used to be vastly motivated to be a job mannequin to different college students. I additionally did lots of consultations with my academics in addition to held quite a few group discussions with my colleagues,” she says.

Faculty Director, Mr Harun Kabiru mentioned academics and the varsity neighborhood had been concerned in serving to Baliseneka to be reintegrated into the faculty setting.

“The varsity supported her in each means. Sooner or later, she wished to drop out once more, however we intervened and ensured she felt comfy at school,” mentioned Mr Kabiru.

Her diligence and exhausting work bore fruits when Schooling Cupboard Secretary Ezekiel Machogu introduced the outcomes on Monday.

“I’m grateful to God for the great outcomes, though I wished a straight A. I completely satisfied as a result of my good grades will assist me obtain my targets,” mentioned Baliseneka, who desires to review drugs in college.

The varsity head lauded Baliseneka for her wonderful achievement.

“She has made us proud and we have fun her efforts,” mentioned Mr Kabiru.