Truth About Being a Young Adolescent

I am an angry and mad teenager. I believe I have a right to be angry and annoyed. Angry at everyone in my space. This includes me. I know being a teenager is being between the ages of 13 to 18. That it is supposed to be exciting and fun at the same time. 

It is a stage of me turning into an adult where I’m expected to make mature decisions that will determine whether my future is bright or doomed. Why am I angry again? I’m angry because I have a million things crisscrossing my small mind but with a few options of who to turn to that wouldn’t judge me. The adults are supposed to understand me. My peers are supposed to love and accept me and I am expected to fully understand myself. And yet none of these people understand me. I don’t even understand me. So I’m mad!

Vulnerability is all about being Human

Take off the mask. Put your guard down. Enough about hiding your insecurities. Today I want to talk about vulnerability. Yes! Vulnerability.

I have found that many of us look at vulnerability as a weakness and we all dread the thought of being open to people about those things we are not proud of doing or the things we are still doing that we never want people to find out about us. 

A Stalling Career and Broken Relationship Pushed me to Depression – Kaka Tim

Photo | Courtesy

Nairobi has always been the proverbial land of greener pastures. To seek these greener pastures Kaka Tim came to Nairobi with high spirits and there is nothing he looks forward to like financial freedom. Before getting on his feet, a kind cousin offered to host him.

“My career took longer to pick up, but I remained optimistic.” Kaka Tim explains. He caught a break and got a writing engagement where the payment was based on several words. Tim worked so hard and was able to get a decent income monthly. This at the time was adequate to cater for his monthly bills.

My Difficult Childhood Unknowingly Drove me into Depression; Lily Okeyo

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“It is okay not to be okay”. This is a statement taken so casually but carries so much weight. It is estimated that 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression which is the most common type of mental disorder.  

Kenya happens to be ranked 6^th in Africa in the number of depression cases at about 2 million.  It is also estimated that 4 in 5 people who commit suicide are depressed at the time of their death. 

The most common causes of depression are biological changes experienced during pregnancy, genetic predisposition, psychological risks and social factors. (WHO, Kenya Mental Health Policy/Act 2014)

Who is an Ideal Woman?

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A while back, I was invited to be part of a mentorship session organised by the alumni of Daraja Academy. The invitation was extended as a motivational speaker and I had a hard time preparing my presentation. 

As I reflected on my High School experience to pick a learning point, one thing came to mind about the autographs we would sign as we left school. There was one question that was common in almost all the autographs I signed,, what is your ideal guy or girl?

Grace Muthoni: My Journey to Self-Discovery Made Me a Teen Mom

“Being a petite and short girl has been one of my greatest challenges. Despite struggling to accept myself, I was bullied by others for the better part of my schooling years.” Grace outlines with great emotions.

Grace Muthoni Maina is a firstborn among two and she describes her childhood as normal and simple. According to societal standards, she was described as a good girl, lovable, disciplined, and very outspoken.

Suicide Awareness and Mitigation

Courtesy: The Book of Man

Suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally and at the same time the second leading cause of death among the youth between the ages of 15-29 years.  According to WHO close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. 

In Kenya, about 4 people commit suicide daily. However, this is just an estimate and there is the worry that the number could be higher given that suicide is not always indicated as the cause of death.