The life we are living today – I don’t understand why we have to live like this; why life is black and white. Why are we different using our colour, race, and language? Why do we have those who are poor and those who are rich? Why are we divided using borders? These are questions I ask my mother each and every day.

“Zama, my child, life is life and you’ve got to do everything to make it out of this world. That’s why I want you to study and make me proud okay.”

“Ewe, Mama, I will make you proud.”

Every day I wake up and go to school. I meet my two friends John and Jabu. Many people call me a lesbian because of going with friends who are boys. Really, I don’t understand the mindsets we tend to have sometimes. Yah, but anyways, John and Jabu have been my friends for 7 years now and we have been having a great friendship. They are both really smart and we were chosen to enter a debate competition at school which I am so hoping to succeed in and make my mom proud.

Well, even though I am not yet living the life I want, it has never made me lose hope about the things I can accomplish. Many teenagers here at school are influenced by bad habits and mindsets. Some get pregnant and are forced to leave school and look after their children. I don’t understand what makes them stop believing in their power and the kind of things they can do in their lives. Today I am a lawyer and I’ve accomplished my dreams even though my mother left us a year ago.I am proud of what I have become. I know that faith, hope and love made me who I am, but the greatest of these is my mother’s love, her power, strength and faith kept me going!