STARTING AGAIN, STARTING STRONG

THE STORIES BEHIND TVET TRAINEE.

For one KSTVET trainee, returning to the classroom is more than an academic pursuit. It is a journey of resilience, rebuilding and rediscovering ambition after motherhood, loss and financial challenges

Walking into a classroom at the Kenya School of TVET (KSTVET), Joy carries more than books and learning materials. She brings with her years of experience, personal responsibilities, difficult choices and ambitions that have refused to disappear.

One of her first realisations was that some of her classmates were several years younger than she was, with some being as much as eight years younger. The age difference initially felt humbling. It made her reflect on the time that had passed and the different paths people take before finding their way back to education.

With time, however, she began to appreciate that everyone has a different timeline and that returning to school is not something to be ashamed of. It is an opportunity to keep growing.

The path that did not go as planned

Joy’s journey in media began at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), where she pursued a Diploma in Mass Communication and TV Production. She had hoped that the qualification would lead to a fulfilling career in the media industry.

However, life brought responsibilities that competed for her time and attention. As a young mother, she found it difficult to give her studies the focus she now wishes she had been able to give.

Looking back, she sometimes wonders how different her career might have been if she had had more time and space to concentrate on her studies. She imagines the opportunities she might have pursued, including working in a major media house.

Her reflections are not a rejection of motherhood or the choices she made to care for her family. Rather, they show how personal responsibilities can reshape a person’s plans and delay ambitions. Despite the challenges, her dream of building a career in media never disappeared.

Rebuilding after loss and financial challenges

After completing her diploma, Joy considered pursuing a degree. However, the cost of further education became a major obstacle. Her parents had already supported her education and were no longer in a position to continue financing her studies.

During this period, she also experienced the loss of her partner. The experience changed how she viewed her future and the responsibility of providing for her three children. She became more determined to build financial independence and create a stable life for her family.

Rather than wait for circumstances to change, Joy began finding ways to support her goals.

She runs a thrift clothing business, sourcing clothes from Gikomba Market, preparing them for sale and using the proceeds to meet some of her education expenses. She also manages Airbnb businesses.

These responsibilities demand time, commitment and sacrifice. Yet, through these activities, she has found a way to take practical steps towards financing her training and building a future for herself and her children.

Discovering a new direction at KSTVET

 conversation with someone familiar with KSTVET introduced Joy to a path she had not fully considered before: becoming a trainer in media studies.

The idea offered her an opportunity to build on her media background while developing the skills needed to teach and prepare others for the industry.

She began to see TVET training not as a second-best option, but as a meaningful professional direction. She believes she can become an effective media trainer and is determined not to let this opportunity pass her by.

Her experience as a media student, parent and entrepreneur has also given her a practical appreciation of the different challenges learners may face.

For her, becoming a trainer is not simply about finding employment. It is also about sharing knowledge, developing talent and contributing to the growth of the media industry.

An ambition that continues to grow

For Joy, completing her current training is one step in a much longer journey.

She hopes to secure employment, use her income to finance a degree and continue advancing academically, potentially to PhD level.

Her ambition is not limited to obtaining another qualification. She wants to keep developing professionally, expand her knowledge and contribute to the training of future media practitioners.

Her story also highlights a reality that is not always visible in a classroom. People may see a trainee attending lessons and assume that everything is straightforward. They may not see the work, financial planning, family responsibilities, personal sacrifices and determination that make it possible for that trainee to be there.

Behind every student is a story, and not every journey into education follows a straight line.

A different timeline, not a lesser dream

Returning to education has required Joy to reconsider what progress looks like.

Being older than some of her classmates does not mean she has missed her chance. Her journey has taken a different route, shaped by motherhood, loss, work and the determination to create new opportunities.

At KSTVET, she is not simply trying to recover the years that have passed. She is choosing to use the opportunity in front of her: strengthening her skills, preparing for a career in training and continuing to work towards goals that remain important to her.

Her journey is a reminder that education does not have an expiry date and that personal circumstances do not have to define the limits of one’s future.

For Joy, starting again is not about going back to the beginning. It is about moving forward with greater clarity, resilience and purpose.