I look at the sacrifices my parents made and the hopes they held for me, and I made a promise to myself: I would not disappoint them. I pushed through the hard days because I wanted to show them their investment in my life was not wasted.
As I stand at the age of 18, reflecting on the path that has led me to this moment, I am struck by how much our lives are shaped by the classrooms we sit in. My own journey began years ago at Star Kindergarten, where the world felt small and full of wonder. From there, I moved to Ombathi Combined School, and eventually, I reached the milestone of completing my advanced subsidiary (AS) levels at Ruacana High School.
Through every stage of this journey, one thing remained constant: the pressure to achieve high grades. In Namibia, we are often raised to believe our report card is the only mirror that reflects our value. We are told that if we do not get the highest symbols, the doors to the future will remain closed.
But today, I want to reach out to my fellow youth with a different message: success is about much more than a percentage.
The road to finishing my AS levels was not a smooth one. There were many moments when life was not easy. I faced obstacles that made focusing on my studies feel like a mountain I had to climb every single day. There were times when the weight of the world felt heavy, and the temptation to give up was real.
However, during those difficult times, I found a strength inside me. I stayed committed to my education as a way to honour my parents’ love and support.
To the youth of Namibia who are struggling right now, whether you are in a small village or a busy town, understand that your resilience is a form of success. The fact that you keep trying, even when life is hard, shows a strength of character that a textbook cannot teach.
A grade can measure how well you remembered a lesson, but it cannot measure your courage, your kindness or your ability to survive tough times.
We must always aim for academic excellence and study with all our hearts, but we must not let a single mark define our entire identity. Our country needs young people who are not just ‘book smart’, but who are also brave, innovative and determined. We need people who know how to fail and get back up again.
As I look forward to the future, I am proud of how far I have come, not just because I reached my AS levels, but because I did not let the hard times stop me.
Let us continue to work hard to make our parents proud, but let us also be kind to ourselves. You are more than a grade; you are a person with a unique purpose and a future that is still being written.
– Mirjama Iita is a high school graduate.
