​

Jackson’s story

Story of My Life: NMS

​

Before NMS

My name is Jackson Ojwang; I was born in 2001. I never met my father—he passed away three

months before I was born. From the beginning, life was a steep hill. Born three months after my

father’s passing, I entered a world already marked by loss. We were a family of five, anchored

by the quiet strength and unwavering love our mother. After my father’s death, conflict and

unrest drove us from our paternal home and we found refuge at our grandfather’s place. In those

early days, hope was a frail word, because life was not only financially difficult, it bore

emotional and psychological burdens that weigh on me when I could barely understand life

itself. Yet in all these troubles, but my mother held firmly to one truth: she believed education

was the path out of our despair.

​

The turning point: Getting a chance

They say fate leads the willing and drags along the reluctant. The window of change came softly

in the form of a new school – Nambale Magnet School. It was a beacon of hope for children

whose futures looked bleak, a sanctuary for children like me whose dreams were too large for

our circumstances. Mother took the bold step to enroll me. Though we lacked finances, we

carried an abundance of hope, NMS welcomed us nonetheless. Looking back, I believe that was

the moment when my history was rewritten and it was the beginning of everything.

NMS was not just a school; it was a complete shift in my universe. At NMS, I got to experience

what many take for granted: the freedom to learn without the looming shadow of unpaid fees.

Though Kenya adopted free primary education under the late former president Mwai Kibaki,

rural life remained difficult. And from Grade One to Eight, I got to study under the great tutelage

of dedicated and compassionate teachers. When I joined the school, I neither knew English nor

was I sharp in class. But, by grade two, I spoke fluently-so much so that my mother could hardly

believe it. I believe this is my greatest achievement because it unlocked everything in my

academic prospects.

The school offered not only quality education and individualized attention, but also regular meals

and a nurturing environment. Compared to life back home, NMS was a haven. The school did

not just educate me- it raised me.

The support gave Mother room to breathe and take care of my elder sibling without the crushing

weight of school expenses. At such a young age, I had the resolve to understand life and to thrive

above it, understanding that education was my key out of my circumstances. Around grade four,

I began to understand the true meaning of education and what lies beyond the classroom. From

that point, my academic performance improved remarkably. My excellent performance persisted

until I finished school in 2016, scoring highly to get a further chance at life. To me, this signaled

that I was writing my history and I had the pen in my hand.

​

Beyond NMS

After excelling at NMS, I joined Light Academy for high school. To get this opportunity was

nothing short of a miracle for me. Again, all this happened courtesy of NMS and the Director,

Mama Evelyn Wakhusama. She catered for any expenses at school and ensured we felt at home.

When I wasn’t at school, I lived at her home for the four years of high school. The school itself is

known for its academic excellence and holistic approach to learning. I studied in an environment

rich in culture, empathy and inspiration. My foundation at NMS grounded me in discipline and

purpose, and has helped me to get through life.

As a young man ready to take on the world, I took part in international programs like (Yale

Young African Scholars) YYAS, where I met and interacted with brilliant minds from across the

continent. My pursuits were like a declaration that I could actually reach for the sky and touch

them.

In the national exam, I scored the highest grade I could and it was a testament that the little

dreams that I had were within my grasp. My effort gave me a golden opportunity to pursue

Aerospace Engineering at Kenyatta University and I am in my second-last year as I write this. I

am living the dream of not only pursuing aerospace engineering but also practicing through

attachments, forums, seminars and conferences. I don’t know if I’d have known this was possible

without education, but NMS gave me the chance to dream and I will continue dreaming big.

​

A grateful heart

Looking back, my life feels like a canvas brushed gently from the shadow into the sunrise—an

emblem of struggle, survival and hope. The earliest shades were dark and the future looked

bleak. However, fate desired other things for me, and in this moment of hopelessness came

NMS, the turning point of my life. NMS did more than just give me books; it gave me a sense of

belonging, a space to breathe and to dare to dream. It replaced the silence of despair and loss

with teachers who saw and believed in me and walked beside me. From this foundation, and

because of that, I am still living.

​

Currently, I am pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. I carry every dream and

sacrifice; I carry the memory of meals that nourished me and the classroom that opened doors

not just to knowledge, but to the world. It humbles me deeply that without NMS, without the

chance, without the belief, my story would have been different.

I carry every dream, every sacrifice, and every moment that shaped me. NMS gave me more than

an education- it gave me breath, belief, and a future. To those who made this possible, I offer

not just thanks but a promise to live a life worthy of the investment made in me. To lift others as

I was lifted. My journey is just the beginning, but thanks to NMS, it begins at dawn.

​