A GRADUATE’S STORY
After completing my A Levels at Isamilo International School Mwanza, I decided to pursue my higher education in the United Kingdom at the University of Hertfordshire, graduating in 2015 with a BA in Economics. Thereafter I decided to take a gap year and went back to Tanzania, where I travelled and explored different regions of the country that I had not visited before. I returned to the UK to pursue my MSc in Economics at City, University of London, graduating in January of 2018.
For me, the biggest challenge in pursuing higher education was in fact my move to the UK, and transitioning to life as an international student. Leaving behind my biggest support system - my parents, the comfort zone that I called home and the familiarity of life that I was accustomed to, was a difficult yet necessary step to take. Lifestyle, culture and aspects such as the transportation system were not familiar and it was the first time I was really independent and living out on my own. Despite all the changes that were going on, two things that greatly helped me along the way were keeping steadfast to my religious beliefs and having some family in the UK. I also found it important to keep good friends that were also facing the same challenges as myself, and made sure to research ahead of my move so that I had some prior knowledge and was not walking into my new surrounding blindly.
I am resilient and I believe that self-improvement and evolution happen through life experiences, but that you have to reflect and try your hardest to tackle them in a practical manner. I have an inquisitive nature and I like to critically analyse every situation. It is important to understand why you believe in the things you do and to question the status quo, but to do so in a respectable and civilised manner involving discussion and debate.
For me, to accomplish your goals it is central to keep your focus on what you want, then find ways and take small steps to help you achieve them. Making use of the student union, career advice, networking and holiday internships were ways that I kept myself driven by setting smaller milestones to carry on working hard. Basically, do the things your future-self will thank your current self-sacrifices for, which will make your life simpler in the long run.
For the challenges that I initially faced, I was rewarded for my efforts. Walking across the stage at my graduation for my master’s degree made everything worthwhile – so always keep the end goal in sight.But as important as it is to work hard and make full use of every opportunity open to you, it is equally, if not more important to cherish every moment and experience. Through all of it, the ups and downs, working those student jobs, writing late night reports, all of these things, make up university life and have so much to teach us about ourselves – enjoy the journey and don’t try to acquire instant gratification!
Having said this, it would not have been possible to get to where I am and be the person I am today without the prayers, duas and unwavering support of my parents. Through their own example and sacrifice, they not only taught me the value of academics but also everything outside it, such as sports, drama and travel that opened my mind up to so much more, and has ultimately shaped the person I am today.
Mehdi Karim
Mwanza Jamat
AFED Post Graduate Loan Recipient
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