For most children in the eastern suburb of Nairobi, Kayole, life is a daily balancing act between limited resources and unyielding aspirations. But every now and then, a story breaks out that shatters barriers and redefines possible.
And this is precisely the case with Sylvia Ombiro Robina, a young woman whose journey from Kayole to Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is nothing but inspirational.
She was once a student at Alliance Girls’ High School and has just received an acceptance letter to the prestigious Harvard University, where she is set to join this fall. Her trip was anything but smooth.
“I have lived in Kayole my whole life. We are a family of four and things were always a bit tight,” she reminisces. “Life could be okay but school fees were always a problem.”
After shining in her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams with an outstanding 425 marks, Sylvia was admitted to Alliance Girls’.
Nonetheless, her family’s economic problems were a matter of time before her educational derailment. She even thought of transferring to a local day school in Kayole at one time.
She hit the jackpot when she was given a full scholarship by the KCB Foundation to take her secondary education. “It was changed by the scholarship,” she confirms.
In Alliance, Sylvia’s academic venture took off, but not without challenges. Just three months into secondary school, the COVID-19 pandemic was announced, and schools were closed.
Unlike many of her classmates, Sylvia was not financially capable of doing online classes. “It was very hurting, but when schools reopened, I worked very hard to make up for the lost time. I was determined,” she recalls.
Through the KCB Leadership Centre mentorship sessions in Karen, Sylvia not only developed her academic skills but also developed life skills that widened her perspective.
“Those sessions made me see many career options and how to study smart. They influenced who I am today.”
Her tenacity was rewarded. Sylvia left with an A in KCSE and was not shy to dream of universities outside the country. She finally received a letter of acceptance from Harvard College, where she plans to study biology or biomedical engineering with a possibility of getting a minor in another STEM field.
“Harvard is massive, literally and figuratively,” she giggles. “I am most excited about meeting people from all corners of the earth, sharing ideas, and learning from their cultures.”
Though she admits that it will be hard for her to get used to the U.S. student-centred education system, she is completely prepared. “It is thrilling, but also somewhat terrifying. Nevertheless, I am convinced that this is just the beginning of something bigger.”
She is confident that her future lies in science and technology, where she can be a blessing to the Kenyan health sector, besides being of help to the rest of the African continent.
The African students who might be going through similar situations as hers, she has this to say: “Never allow your challenges to diminish your dreams. If it is your dream to study abroad, make that dream come true. Target it. Work towards it. ”
Sylvia’s story is a quintessential story carved out of the dusty streets of Kayole and the ivy-clad corridors of Haivy-clad. It revolves around the triumvirate of resilience, opportunities, and belief.