Successful life needs one to be both ambitious and opportunist. The more ambitious you are, the more you will want to reach your life’s high targets.

It is true that success does not come on a silver plate. One has to have a great character to see his/her dreams come true. In other words, one has to work hard. The harder you work the greater chance you create to reach your target. Success is simply the outcome of one’s determination. As the famous French Emperor, Louis Napoléon Bonaparte said, “The great ambition is the passion of a great character.”

I think this great determination is what made Brother Peter Mokaya Tabichi, a Franciscan Friar, win the 2019 Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize. This award will forever be remembered by his confreres, his fellow Kenyans and the world at large.

I believe that Brother Peter Mokaya is now an icon and a role model to many Kenyans especially the youth. For, according to Kenya’s Daily Nation, dated March 26, 2019, “The mathematics and physics teacher at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani village, Nakuru County made Kenya and Africa shine when he bagged the $1 million (KSh100 million) prize, beating nine other contenders.”

But my big question is, what made the world to attribute such an enormous award to a native of Kisii? I believe it is because of his hard work and determination. There is no way one can achieve such a high level award without dedication.

If a native of Kisii is recognised at international level, it means that it is also possible for you to obtain such a recognition. The secret is simple: just work hard, be yourself, and create opportunities.

My humble appeal goes to the young people of Africa at large, and Kenya in particular. It is true that we are living in times when poverty has affected the lives of many young people. Some even say that, “Whether I go to school or not, it is the same because at the end of the day there are no job opportunities.”

I understand how frustrating it can be for you to study for more than ten years and not harvest the fruits of your studies. At the same time I would like to tell you that through your determination, you can make a difference in this world. Do not be afraid to try even where everyone has failed. You better know that success is simply a product of your work, and its road can be walked by anyone.

You might be the next award winner! Who knows? We still want to hear young people being recognised as the world best nurse, world best engineer, world best student, world best doctor, world best professor, world best president, and so on.

In fact, the Pope recently published an encyclical dedicated to the youth. Today more than ever, the Church has a big role to play in encouraging young people to discover their potentialities, and to always dream big. The dream is the beginning of everything. One always dreams what one wants. At the end of the day, the dream normally turns into a reality.

Sempre para frente!

Fr André Nzuzi, imc