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The Spectator
From Where I Sit: Hamilton's International Perspective
by Pauline Wafula '13Features Contributor
November 06, 2009
When I complained about the cold weather at my high school, my mother always told me , "Keep on going my daughter, it might be a preparation to go to a colder place in the future." I went to Loreto High school in Limurutown, one of the coldest parts of Kenya. Little did I know that my mother's words would one day come true. It was not long before I received the elating news that I had been admitted at Hamilton College, located in one of the coldest areas of the U.S.
I vividly remember my parents and siblings bidding me farewell at the airport in Nairobi, Kenya. I walked into the departures room and found the place thronged with travelers. I turned back and could not see my family anymore. It then dawned on me that I was all alone, surrounded by strange faces. I was no longer that little girl under the care of my parents and my two older brothers who were always protective of me. I was a young woman embarking on a life journey to find my destiny.
I was the first one in my family to travel internationally, therefore I did not have ample knowledge of what to expect. I had set out on a long 24 hour journey, all alone. I would have to make the necessary connections to get to a place that I had never been before. When I finally got to the Hill, I made an instant connection with the place. I had a feeling that this was the right place for me to be. I had a strong conviction that I had found the path to my destiny.
At Hamilton, I have embarked on a journey. True of all journeys, the first step is always the hardest. The initial transition has not been easy. I have had to make so many adjustments in order to fit in to my new environment. Getting used to the food, the small talk and the clichés has not been a bed of roses. The curriculum is also rigorous, and at first, I felt like I was voiceless in most of my classes. I knew that I would have to work harder and put in more hours than other people in order to gain the extra understanding that I needed. Slowly but surely, I began to find my voice and was able to put my feet on the ground.
Today, I have the courage to give my opinion because I know that it matters, and that there are people who are ready to listen. Sometimes I have felt like I have been pushed to the limit but often, these are the moments that I get the best out of myself. I have come to realize that just as gold has to go through fire in order for it to be valuable, I have to encounter several challenges as a path to my success.
I have figured out that I have the freedom to shape my life the way I want it to be; but with freedom comes responsibility. I have had to learn how to manage resources, from my finances to my time. I have learned to manage my time in order to balance all the aspects of my life. Sometimes I am amazed at how much I have achieved during my short stay here. Who knows what I stand to accomplish during my four years at Hamilton?
This has been a period of self discovery and soul searching. I have been able to discover a multitude of things about myself. I have been challenged to think independently and to get out of my comfort zone. I have had to shed any preconceived ideas that I had and be open to try out new things. I signed up for an intramural sport that I'm not great at. Several months ago, I would be indifferent to the idea, but now I have the courage and zeal to challenge myself each day.
The friends that I have made in this institution are from all walks of life. They have exposed me to different cultures, and for the first time I have become aware of the diversity that exists in the world around me. A Swahili saying states, "If you only eat at your home and not anywhere else, you will always think that your mother is the best cook." I had to leave my country so that I could realize that things are done differently somewhere else. Some of these ways are more efficient. I have had to embrace new ideas each day and use them to mold myself into a better person.
Over dinner several days ago, my friends and I were discussing the different types of foods and commodities in our countries. We were surprised to realize that there were so many similarities between the various countries. The common dish in my country is called ugali, prepared from maize flour. The same is found in Zimbabwe, only that it bears a different name, sadza. I then inferred that, despite all our differences, we had so much in common; we had one goal. All of us are on a quest of realizing our potential at Hamilton. Holding fast to my dreams, I believe that at the end of my four years here, I will become the educated, mature, independent and dignified woman I have always wanted to be.