Nyakare eyes computer engineering Shania Nyakare, an 11 year-old from Sparrow Parents School in Kabuga, scored aggregate 5. She attributes her success to hard work, ambition, parents’ support and guidance, and teachers, especially her Kinyarwanda teacher, Edulaine Uwizeye, whose guidance she says helped her to excel. “He gave me the necessary confidence, and with God on my side I knew I was destined to pass,” she said, when asked how her Kinyarwanda teacher motivated her. Nyakare, a book lover, emerged among the top 5 pupils during 2017’s Kigali reading and writing competition held last May at City Hall. “She was struggling in Kinyarwanda and so I put in great effort to see to it that she would pass it in the end,” her mother, Mable Batamuliza, said. Nyakare eyes computer engineering. She acknowledges her parents’ support, especially when she had difficulty in comprehending her assignments. Nyakare wants to study at a secondary school with high values for education and thinks Maranyondo Girls School can offer her just that. Shania Nyakare and her mother, Mable B. Kagarama, after the interview at The New Times Publications offices. Sam Ngendahimana. ******************************************************* Busingye believed in herself Lilian Busingye, 12, from the same school attributes her success to teachers, prayer and parents’ guidance. She scored 5 aggregates to emerge among the best. “I believed in myself, prayed hard. With the help and guidance of my family and teachers, I was able to score the aggregates.” She acknowledges role of her teachers-Edulaine Uwizeye and Julius Kabarebe, who taught her Kinyarwanda and Mathematics respectively-as having contributed to her success. Busingye admits Mathematics was her most difficult subject. I put all my focus on it; that was the secret to my success, she said. She is the second last born among six children born to Iribori Scovia and Twagirayesu Rongin. Busingye eyes medicine in the future. She believes sciences are an important aspect in the daily lives of human beings the reason she wants to be a doctor. Lilian Busingye from Sparrow Parents School during an interview at the New Times. Sam Ngendahimana. ******************************************************* Confidence drove Uwase to success Eliane Uwase, from Sparrow Parents School said, “I was self-driven, confident, and had the backing of my teachers and friends.” She scored aggregate 5. A Christian, Uwase said she prayed always and as exam time approached she felt she didn’t have to worry about anything. I knew most of what we had studied would be asked in the examinations, I was confident that I would succeed in the end, she said. “I had to extend my revision time from 6pm-9pm, something that didn’t drain me.” An outgoing girl, Uwase dedicated her success to her science teachers. The fashion lover has been admitted to Lycée Notre Dame for her O level. A 13 year old, Eliane Uwase from Sparrow Parents School pose for a photo with her Father at The New Times Publications offices. Timothy Kisambira. ******************************************************* Gashumba changed her attitude ahead of exams Arlette Shema Gashumba, of Sparrow Parents School, in Kabuga got aggregate 5. The 12-year old girl attributed her success to constant revision and hard work. “I always listened attentively to my teachers and parents’ advice. I totally believed in myself and knew I was going to make it and I think that was my key to success.” “It was a bit difficult, I didn’t perform well in the first term due to poor attitude and because I was new in the school. But my parents sat me down, and advised me to change my attitude…I realised that I had to work hard,”Gashumba said. Francine Mukankusi, her mother, did not hide the excitement either. “Parents just have to freely communicate with their children, it can help them a lot and makes them feel like they are free to tell them their weaknesses and to ask for help them when they need it.” Arlette Shema Gashumba poses with her mother Francine Mukankusi after an interview at The New Times Publications offices. Sam Ngendahimana.