A MOTHER who sacrificed everything she had missed out on as a child for her son’s success passed away suddenly, just two weeks before his graduation.
Christopher Sifuya shared with #Kalemba how his mother made countless sacrifices to see him graduate as a journalist.
He expressed that her death has deeply shaken him, describing the experience as a devastating shock.
“My mother, like most mothers, was everything to me. She ensured I had everything I needed. As I grew older, she became a friend. I told her almost everything—my aspirations, the places I randomly visited, anything that happened in my life. It was almost as if I could do no wrong in her eyes,” Sifuya recalled.
“She was the biggest cheerleader of my career. She supported every move and believed in everything I did, from the start to the time of her passing. That belief is something I carried with me in everything I did and still do,” he added.
Sifuya revealed that journalism was also his mother’s dream. At one point, she had wanted to attend journalism school, but financial constraints made it impossible.
It was for this reason that she gave him the opportunity to pursue the dream she never could. Sadly, her wish to see her son grow into a seasoned journalist was cut short.
“This is the worst thing I’ve ever had to deal with. It’s strange that even now, as I write this, I can’t believe I’m referring to my mother in the past tense. Suddenly, all the hard work and effort I put into my education and career over the past five years felt like it was for nothing, powerless and useless, like I had wasted my time,” he lamented.
“How do you move forward when the person you worked so hard for is no longer around to be proud of you and witness your success? I didn’t celebrate my graduation. She worked so hard to see me complete my education, only for her not to be here to witness the fruits of her labour. I’m completely heartbroken,” Christopher said.
“At my graduation, I had to pretend she was somewhere watching the ceremony, and I tried to stay strong for a few hours. But it was so hard. Nothing could have prepared me to graduate without my mother. I know she would have wanted me to be happy—that’s all she ever wanted for me—so I tried to make the most of it during those four hours of the ceremony.”
Christopher’s mother was the foundation of everything he did. Her unwavering support was all he needed to keep moving forward.
The 23-year-old newly certified journalist promises to live up to everything his mother wanted him to be.
“By the time she passed, she knew everything I had achieved, and I know she was proud of the progress I had made. After her passing, I’m sure she would have been proud of my graduation,” he reflected.
“Her pure heart, unwavering love, care, belief, support, and prayers—I will carry those qualities with me as a reminder of what an amazing woman and mother she was. She will always be a part of everything I do because she was my everything.”
Christopher has been in the media industry for five years and has been steadily building his career since then. He aspires to become one of the most critically acclaimed creatives, media personalities, and journalists.
“My recent achievement is definitely a step closer to becoming the superstar I want to be. My mother will always be the pillar, force, and drive that pushes me harder,” said Christopher.
Christopher Sifuya graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Cavendish University last month.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, October 14, 2024
