Making MY Dreams Come True (End of Year Blog post 2018)

There is no one time where you have everything you have dreamed of or prayed for, so stop waiting for it. The time is now. Right now I am thankful for where I am because I am (if I can borrow from Michelle Obama’s words) BECOMING. I am becoming everything I’ve dreamed and prayed for.

As I reflected about what I should write about for my annual, year in review post, this is what I came up with. When I really think about it and even though I am fighting it and have been down on myself, I am exactly where I need to be. It is hard as heck and unexpected, but a few years ago I got on my knees and prayed for a few things; each have manifested, some even earlier than I prayed and so here we go….the highlights of 2018.

Earlier this year I was completing my degree in Technology, Innovation and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Last year I did some reflection on the Ivy League experience here and here. As I said in those posts, I chose that degree because  I wanted to combine everything I loved and it allowed me to launch my organization. Every class I took I built on SUDU. In my entrepreneurship classes some were surprised that this was not just something I was playing around with for the class, nah this was something was I was absolutely ready to do.

Even before leaving Massachusetts I would start experiencing the next stage in my life that I didn’t quite realize I was fully in. I reflected on it last year on knowing your self-worth. I have written about working in Sierra Leone including last year, but this recent experience has been totally new. I have had to turn down so many job offers because of pay. In Sierra Leone in particular, I have been facing what it means to be a dual citizen. A lot of organizations want to pay you as a local. I will tackle the issue of why there is such a disparity between an expat salary and host country national at another time, but it has really annoyed me that these organizations want to have their cake and eat it too.

They want someone who speaks the language, experience working in Sierra Leone, but also the whole experience of being from outside, but for crap pay and no benefits. How sway? Lately I’ve had to say “you have to pay for that boo boo.” I am way beyond the stage in my life where I am doing stuff for the experience. I can proudly say not only do I have the work experience, I have the educational experience. As an African, you have to fight so hard, when someone of a different race with less experience gets to be paid higher than you. This is something I’ll have to write about later, but it has been quite the experience returning home this time around. Because I am standing on this principle I have struggled, but I can’t settle anymore, not only because I have people now that depend on me, but just for my hopes and dreams. I also now know that I am worth a lot and won’t put myself down anymore.

So, SUDU. Since I left Sierra Leone as a child I thought about orphans. I’ve always wanted to tackle this issue and one day I’ll write more in detail why this is. Over the years I’ve learned more about children and especially children with trauma and I wanted to approach orphan care differently. I launched Sudu this year and I am so happy to have come this far in just a year. You can check out the website and our social media pages for more information. Aside from SUDU, which is a passion program and not career related, last year, I put together a business plan for SalCreatives. 

I’ll reveal more later, but decided to start small with a side gig that is not directly related, but combines what I love and know I can do well. I mostly do it in Sierra Leone, but I’ve had some clients in the U.S. as well.  I am also giving myself back to my creative writing side and it has been everything with the launch of my Creative Writing page, Kamakwie Princess. Writing on a regular basis and distributing it on my IG and FB platforms has been great. 

Yes, so even though I could focus on all the negatives this year because the last six months have been kicking my butt, especially on the career and personal point, I have to reflect on how much I have accomplished. Like wow! I am making all my dreams come true. Me. Even if I struggling (and I am no stranger to struggle), too much is riding on this for me to give up now. I am thankful. Thank you to all of you have supported and guided me. You are the real MVPs. 2018 goodbye. I am ready for 2019. Let’s go!