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

She had given up on secondary college 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 mother and father.

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 dwelling.

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 prime 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 atmosphere of her household in Kakamega County.

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

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

“I used to be disturbed by their endless feuds which made my keep at house 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 folks considered me as all I cared for was my life,” she says.

Later she met and befriended somebody who labored at an leisure joint. The buddy 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 house, her mother and father seemed all over the 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 mother and father have been summoned and suggested to get the companies of a counsellor and search remedy along with their daughter.

Finally, Baliseneka agreed to return to highschool and keep together with her aunt in Njoro as her mother and father resolved their points.

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

“I used to be made the pinnacle lady within the college and I used to be tremendously motivated to be a task mannequin to different college students. I additionally did a number 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 college group have been concerned in serving to Baliseneka to be reintegrated into the college atmosphere.

“The college supported her in each method. In some unspecified time in the future, 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 nice outcomes, though I wished a straight A. I joyful as a result of my good grades will assist me obtain my objectives,” mentioned Baliseneka, who desires to check drugs in college.

The college head lauded Baliseneka for her glorious achievement.

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