As the firstborn of my family and going through challenges in completing high school, it was 2013 and I realized that after 2 years (2015) I was going to graduate from Baidoa Primary and Secondary school (BPSS) not knowing and surprisingly thinking about where my next educational journey will be heading to. Today, in 2023, after 10 years back, the story is different.

As is normal in each Somali family, I am not different and I was from a nomadic and poor family with little understanding about the importance of education. With many circumstances, my family and relatives managed to send me to school and I started learning without limitations on the way. I went as far as I could. I studied and performed well in primary school. At my intermediate level, my family couldn’t manage to pay my school fee and I almost failed to complete high school. Fortunately, I told my teachers that I couldn’t afford to pay my school fees. Luckily, my school fees were sponsored and I no longer worried about school fees at all.

In mid-July 2015, I graduated from school and was ready to take on any challenge that stands my way to college.  I think it was the last Friday of Ramadan. I talked to my school principal Mr. Ahmed Sayed, who knew how my education journey has been and discussed the possibility of getting me a scholarship from Mogadishu universities. Unluckily, there were no available scholarships of any kind at that moment. I have requested my school principal to notify me in case of an available scholarship and that I will be available to compete to qualify for it if there are any.

This time I am ready to travel to Mogadishu without a single penny in my pocket and no one was ready to help me out except my mom and the good friends I had in those days. I told my friend, Mr. Mohamed, that I have no families and relatives that I know in Mogadishu but committed to travel at any cost. Mohamed told me that we can travel together to Mogadishu since he was planning to travel to Mogadishu for University and that he will host me for ten days until I find somewhere to stay.

A few days later, I received a phone call from my school principal. He told me that there is someone I should meet in the Wadajir district. I have agreed with him without hesitation. Shortly I met Sheikh Mukhtar who was one of the pioneers in the Somali educational system since the collapse of the central government of Somalia in 1991. Mr. Mukhtar told me that there is a list of almost six universities that I can choose from to join if I meet the conditions and requirements. I eagerly waited to hear the conditions.

Sheikh Mukhtar continued by listing the conditions and the main conditions were as follows:

• That I must be a Hafid Quran (know Quran by heart)
• Must have a high school certificate with a minimum pass score of 95%
• Must be familiar with Some AHADITHs and can explain it
• If I am selected, each semester I must have a greater than a B+ grade
• If I am selected, university fees will be paid in advance for four years and I should pay them back after four years. Which means it’s a loan!
• Must help a Somali student who is needy as I was being helped during the difficult times

These conditions were shocking to me. I questioned the possibility of how a young boy who is suffering financially and has nowhere to reside yet can meet such kinds of conditions. Finally, I said yes to the conditions. I was invited for an interview for testing my Quran and AHADITH knowledge and to sign the agreement. I passed and I joined SIMAD University as a full-time accounting student on September 5, 2015. I attended SIMAD University for four years without paying a penny but bearing in mind that I have to pay the fees back one day. After four years on December 16, 2019, I successfully graduated from SIMAD University. The most interesting and beautiful thing in this journey was when I was told that I was no longer required to pay back any amount  and the conditions were only to measure my level of commitment and readiness as students.

Conclusion Remarks

Today in 2023, ten years later, I work and have a permanent job. I traveled twice to Entebbe, Uganda for work-related seminars and training. I am happily married on September 10, 2021. I live with my spouse and little princess of 6 months. With some friends’ help, I sent my brother to Russia to pursue a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery. In conclusion, if you get ready for tomorrow and set a goal, there is always a way out. To progress in any stage of life, there must be a different you. Through obstacles, we can master everything and achieve life goals. The greatest thing in life is not what we get, it is what the challenges prepare us to become. I don’t claim that I am successful but at least I proved that “Where there is a will there’s a way” proverb. If you truly want to do something you will find a way to do it even if it is hard to do.