MUTSA MURENJE, ZIMBABWE,26
PRE-INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
A problem exists whenever there are facts to be accounted for, facts which are plain to any careful reader, a reader with an active orientation towards read material as opposed to a passive one. Perchance this explains why the late renowned political scientist Professor Masipula Sithole said that “Any social scientist, or even a layman, knows that an issue is generally studied when a problem has arisen.” A problem has indeed arisen especially with regards the sad and discouraging moments that I went through before the commencement of my internship at the World Youth Alliance Africa headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya in May 2009.
It all started in the year 2007 when I made an application to be considered for internship. I patiently waited for the response with joyous hope and longing expectation. It never dawned on me that I would later experience great grief and consternation. I was overly optimistic that the response would be positive. After all, I am of the opinion that optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope and confidence. So it is for this reason that I was overly optimistic that my application would succeed. But the response was quite negative and I was almost down on my knees. I didn’t expect it. I wasn’t ready for that kind of response. My application was unsuccessful. I was really devastated.
But it didn’t end there. For we all know don’t we, that the failure of one crop does not deter the planting of seeds. Success is born of trying and trying again. In short, victory is born of struggle. I had to resume the journey again. I remember reading elsewhere that it’s not a long way to a man’s heart’s desire and that on the road to one’s beloved there are no hills. I had to wait for close to two years before I could be considered for an internship in Nairobi. But believe you me; it didn’t come on a silver platter. It had to be a long wait indeed and it came with a price. I had to come by bus yes by bus all the way from Harare, Zimbabwe. Yes right there in Southern Africa. For your own information, Kenya is part of the East African Community and us we are from SADC!
The journey was extraordinarily long and tiresome but eventually I made it. If I were somebody I would have given up prematurely. But because I am a called person as opposed to a driven one, I have strength from within, power and perseverance that are impervious to the blows from without. I know that somebody elsewhere may be going through the same predicament that I went through. My encouraging words are please don’t lose heart because if you do, you won’t be able to make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in. I, myself have made a career of humanity and this is where I am today. I put it to you.
