One Decade Down, Forever 2 Go

I received My Diploma today, on the anniversary of My mother's demise. This is not just a token of Hard work, limitlessness, and perseverance. It's a Token of comfort, an unbreakable bond, and new beginnings. I remember when I enrolled back in school in November and had my first meeting with my student advisor. The first question I asked was, “Has anyone ever completed/finished this program in half the time frame?” She responded saying “just one student, however, they were not working full-time. At the time, I was working full-time and was not in a position to work fewer hours once school started in the Spring.

We went over the curriculum and program in detail, and in the end she said, You have 60 credits to complete.” If you work full-time time then you will finish within the standard 2-year time frame. I objected and said, “No I will be your second student to finish this degree within half the time too. She obliged and said Ok, and deep down I knew the reality would be much harder. The odds were very much against me with my busy schedule. However, I accepted the challenge and embarked on a journey into the unknown.

I started school on my Birthday this year in March, and by mid-September, I had completed this degree. As we speak, my peers are still in class; this semester ends on October 20th. Yet I finished the course and already received my Diploma. The fear of the unknown is much worse than the virtual reality of things. Stepping out of your comfort zone is a powerful anxiety that can manifest into other forms of failure. But all in all, my Grace is different. And Six months later, the fear is gone, and the rest is history

Behind the smile, the glamour and fashion. Is a woman becoming what her Mother already foreseen. A Leader in her own right, and an enigma of her beauty. My Mother made Pearls look expensive. There’s something about that Vintage look that can never grow old. Her authenticity made people want to be stylish. Her fashion sense screamed confidence when she walked into a room. In an environment where people played it safe or mimicked others' style and fashion. My Mother chose to be indifferently different. Pearls were her signature accessory. She had a collection of them, and when she died in 2015, the pearl-style kind of vanished too. At least in our family…

Nevertheless, I have since grown to love Chanel. Something about that authenticity and vintage look gives me nostalgia. It brings me back to Nyakach, it enlightens my spirit knowing my Mother and I still share a bond. You see, my Mother wore many Hats, but the one I am most fond of is her Aura, her smile, and fashion statements.

Today marks 10 years since she left us, and as I look through a gallery of her pictures. All I see are Pearls. I remember when she died, and a few weeks afterwards, they brought out her jewelry box for me to take whatever I wanted. One box was filled with different types of pearls, and I couldn’t even look through the 2nd jewelry box. I could not bring myself to wear her pearls, let alone take them. So, I put everything back into the box and returned her jewelry boxes. Nevertheless, with time, I have come to buy my very own pearls in remembrance of my Mother. I also started my own Pearl collection as well. I hear your mold into your mother as you grow old, with time. I am Proud and honored to become Her.

I stan on Pearls now. Nevertheless, Nyomollo’s Pearl collection still dominates mines. So tomorrow, we rock our best accessories: Pearls, in honor of our Matriarch.

Cheers to the best moments on earth and all the fond memories you left for us to cherish. Happy Anniversary Nyar Nyakomala, Atwech, Nyathi ga Akong’o. Mummy Dearest.