This year was a total confusion for a considerable number of first year students.

They couldn’t find their names on the lists for those that SFAR was going to sponsor. These students were promised scholarship loans. Most of them had already paid registration fee and rented rooms whether in the campus or nearby.

It seemed that these students would have to go home because they had no scholarships or else, pay for themselves tuition fees. Many of them are from poor families therefore couldn’t afford private sponsorship.

Initially when I was writing this piece, there seemed no hope for the stranded students. I had expressed my hope that government would consider their problem and give a reasonable solution to it. Fortunately, our President Paul Kagame offered these students a last minute reprieve in form of scholarships.

When the students were still stuck, I had heard over the radio some of our affected sisters saying that they were ready to seek sugar daddies and head for prostitution, because they have nowhere else to go. This is very sad and disappointing!!

Having a dream is the most important thing in life and I suppose many of our young brothers and sisters have great dreams and ambitions. Some of them hope to become lawyers, others doctors, scientists and great businessmen.

It is never good to lose hope and give up on those precious dreams. Remember, success belongs to those who persevere. Losing a chance to join university should not put an end to one’s ambitions.

Many of the students have once been at the Ingando and have had a chance of using an AK47 shooting a target. Sometimes we used to call the exercise marksmanship. Well, dreams are like shots.

Not all shots fired will hit the target. But without shooting you will never hit the target.

What lesson can we take from what was almost befalling these students? In case one fails to attain a certain goal, they should keep hope alive and try again.

If the President hadn’t come to their rescue, I would have advised the students to keep trying. Remember the saying, "Aim for the sun and land on the moon you will still be higher than folks who never aimed.’’

There are those who are probably feeling sorry for themselves for having missed University this year. My advice? Don’t let this put you down. Remember how big your dream is and how anxious you are to fulfill it.

That will give you the drive to keep in the right direction. Though speed is important, direction is much more important. For, rushing in the wrong direction does nothing but push you away from your goal. However, moving at a snail’s speed in the right direction puts you closer and closer to your goal.  

In most cases the path that leads to great dreams is not straight it has numerous turns, twists and corners. Maybe the fact that SFAR is not going to get you the scholarship is just one of those corners. So do not be afraid and give up your dream, for it’s your reason of living.
Quitters never win and winners never quit.

I will give you an example of a great winner who never gave up even when things seemed at their worst.
It is a story of Abraham Lincoln, a self-educated lawyer and sixteenth American president.

He failed in business at age 21, he was defeated for legislative at age 22.He failed again in business at age 24.His fiancé died when he was 26 years old and when he was 27 he had a nervous breakdown.

He lost a congressional race at age 34.He lost senatorial race at age 45.Failed to become vice president at 47.
Lost again senatorial race at 49 and finally was elected president at 52.

This man combined persistence, patience and more important faith and he succeeded. I urge you to do likewise.

Contact: muvunyiv@yahoo.co.uk