One year! That was all that stood between me and the completion of my undergraduate degree. With two days to resumption of my final year, I could almost see the finish line. I had dreams mapped out leave alone the joy of graduating and finally fulfilling my family’s dream of becoming the one and only lawyer. As it was always our tradition, we had our usual parting meeting and the anticipation of stepping into the next stage of my career took a greater place in our discussions. Life seemed to be unfolding just as I had hoped.
Then, in a jiffy, everything changed.
The accident was sudden, violent, and unforgiving. When I regained consciousness, I realized that my body was no longer the same. The doctors’ words carried a lot of uncertainty. At first, I didn’t fully grasp how to interpret them, but as the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, the reality sank in. I was disabled!!! My independence, my confidence, and my carefully laid-out plans seemed to crumble right before me.
I found myself spiraling through denial, anger, and despair. Repeatedly, questions such as, “Why me? Why now?” 😭 kept crossing my mind. After pouring every ounce of effort into my studies, it felt as though everything had been snatched away from me in an instant. The weight of that loss was the deepest pain I had ever known. 😔
However, in the quiet of those long sleepless hospital nights, I also realized something profound. My body may have been broken, but my fighting spirit was not. I still had my brain, my dreams, and above all, my determination. I could not allow one tragic moment define the rest of my life.
“What next?” This is a question that kept lingering in my mind. Resuming my studies in the university after the accident was perhaps one of the hardest decisions I ever made. “How was I going to do it?” I could barely even sit for long hours without complaining of severe back pains. Writing ✍🏿 or scribbling was now a thing of the past! As I tried to figure my next steps, I deferred my studies for three years.
One morning, I decided to pack my bags and left for the city. My long retrospection under the acacia tree in front of my father’s house was now over. I had decided it was time for me to go back and complete my undergraduate studies. The combination of anticipation and excitement was significant. I wrote to the University, and a meeting was convened to discuss my issue. Indeed, the University Senate was willing to assist but had never handled a case like mine before. Just to lay the context straight, different forms of disabilities require different types of adjustments. Here was Brenda, requiring a scribe to write her exams among other adjustments! The world I stepped back into was not designed for me. Besides, the curriculum I was studying was being phased out. In this case, I only had only this one final chance to complete my remaining 12 units and I knew I could not afford to miss it!
I often felt like an experiment, a guinea pig testing whether an education system not built for people like me could bend, even slightly, to accommodate. Every day was a negotiation, not only for academic success but for dignity.
Some days I wanted to quit. The fatigue, the stares, the endless “sorrys” from people who didn’t know how else to respond, all weighed heavily on my fragile heart. But something stronger kept me going. I knew that if I gave up, my story would end as a tragedy. If I pressed on, it could one day become a testimony.
I pressed on and kept showing up. Through the support of my friends and colleagues I completed my undergraduate degree. A journey that entailed self learning and sleeping for less than three hours. Never forgetting my neighbour Titus who helped me revise late at night and woke me up in the wee hours of the morning. As I left for the exam room, he’d always encourage me and say, “relax! You are ready for that paper!” Crossing that stage and graduating with a Second Class Honours, Upper Division was more than an academic achievement, it was a testament that indeed God still uses broken vessels for His glory!
A New Test
Thinking that my undergraduate journey was tough, the Kenya School of Law was even a greater mountain. The pressure was immense! Talk about the long hours of study, the demanding coursework and the competitive environment. Nonetheless, layered on top of that was the daily motivation of ultimately the desire to become an Advocate and pursue my new passion of championing for the inclusion of persons with disabilities. The constant pressure of trying to prove myself over and over that I was not asking for favors was quite overwhelming.
Some days I encountered moments of exhaustion where I doubted whether I could keep up. Questions of whether I could ever get employed in my state never failed to cross my mind. But each time, I reminded myself of how God’s grace has always been sufficient throughout, I chose to live by faith and looking forward at the bigger picture. I decided that this wasn’t just for me but for every other student with a disability who would come after me. If I could make it through, maybe the system would be kinder, more prepared and more inclusive for them.
After 9 rigorous months of I sat my exams and completed my Post Graduate Diploma in Law, another triumph in my educational journey. The fatigue thereafter resulted to bouts of anxiety, illness and a scare that almost cost my life another time. Relentless as I am, I knew I was on a mission, and I had a great purpose to accomplish.
Beyond the Barriers
Even after all that, I wasn’t done. My hunger for knowledge had not dimmed. I pursued my Master’s degree, determined to push boundaries even further. This was perhaps the most symbolic stage of my journey. It wasn’t easy. Balancing between work, health challenges, societal attitudes and academic rigor tested me daily. In this program, I chose to focus more on accessibility because of my experiences throughout my studies. I envisioned a barrier free education system that did not discriminate against any person.
As I complete my Master’s, this is one of the proudest moments of my life. It is proof to myself, my family, my friends and to the world that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Indeed, delayed dreams are not denied dreams! Even after tragedy, one can rise, rebuild and redefine their destiny.
A Larger Purpose
Looking back, my accident may have wounded me physically, but it also awakened my voice. It turned me into more than a student or a professional but also an empathetic human being. My journey showed me the gaps in our systems, the struggles of countless others living silently in the shadows, and the urgent need for true inclusion.
Today, I carry my scars not as a symbol of defeat, but as badges of resilience. I carry my story not as a burden, but as a torch to light the way for others. My tragedy became my turning point. My pain became my purpose!
This is not just my story. It is the story of everyone who has been told, “You can’t” and has responded, “Watch me!”
Michyie's Odyssey 