THE POWER OF BECOMING

My junior school years were a stretch of lessons that went far beyond the classroom. From Form 1 through Form 3, I balanced growing up in a noisy new village, adjusting to a fuller household, and rising through the ranks at school. I was always a confident student, smart, outspoken, and constantly in the top 10. I led morning assembly songs, served as a class monitress, and kept my head held high even when others tried to dim my light. I faced bullying for my big lips, and though it hurt, I stood up for myself –sometimes with words, sometimes with fists. My mother never heard of those fights; they stayed between me and the battleground that was school. Junior school shaped me in ways no textbook ever could.

2012 stood out as the climax of it all.

It was my final year, the one that would end with me sitting for my Junior Certificate Examinations. At home, the family grew ,again. Another sibling was born, and I felt the shift in energy. Our house in Mmathethe was always full now, full of voices, footsteps, laughter, and the quiet cries of new life. My role as big sister deepened, and I embraced it.

At school, I remained in my element. I was still that bold, confident girl who wasn't afraid to lead songs or speak up in class. But 2012 also brought something new–I had my first real crush. A quiet little fire inside, confusing but warm. It made me more self-aware, and oddly shy at times.

Then came one of the proudest moments of my life: representing my school on national television. I was the leader of our debate club, and we were selected to appear on Kgang Tseleng, a Setswana TV debate program recorded in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.I had been to Gaborone before–back when I was in Kanngwe Primary school, proudly representing the school in subject fairs and quizzes. But this time still felt big. Different. I wasn’t just a bright kid showing up for an academic showcase –I was now a leader, leading a team, speaking for a whole school on national TV.

The lights, the pace, the buzz of the capital still thrilled me. We stayed together as a team, sharing meals, jokes, and nerves. The elevator and escalator moments are still unforgettable– even though I’d seen them before, they hadn’t lost their magic. We laughed, clung to the rails, and squealed like we were riding a magic carpet.

The food was another joy. We ate soft buns stuffed with meat, drank fancy sodas, and enjoyed flavors that made us feel like royalty. And when the cameras started rolling in that studio, our nerves turned to fire. We debated boldly, each argument stronger than the last. We aced it. We weren’t just students –we were representatives, voices for our school and our villages.

2012 wasn’t easy at all!It was full of pressure –from home, from school, from within. But it was also filled with growth. I came out of it not just with a certificate, but with memories stitched into my heart.

I passed my Junior Certificate Examination. That was the final stamp –not just of success, but of readiness. I was no longer a junior. I was now standing at the threshold of senior secondary school, ready to face a whole new chapter of life –wiser, braver, and full of becoming.