The Year I Let Go I gave up. As early as February, I let everything go. Now, this is not how you expected my year to start. I know. Me too. I truly believed this would be my year of clarity and calculated moves. I was convinced this would be my best year yet. So I wrote down what I would and would not be doing. And for about a week into January, I thought I had it all: the friend group, the mentor, the project. I was rising. So what happened? I broke down. I spiraled into a depression only I can describe. I tried talking to a friend, but somehow it felt like my feelings weren’t worth the space. I tried different ways to free myself. I tried so hard. But I cannot give hope, I cannot pour ambition into the world, when I am drowning in shame, resentment, and anxiety. I was exhausted from trying to be someone I felt pressured to become. So I walked away. I walked away from the dream team. I walked away from the people who looked up to me. I walked away from the friend group. The only ones ...
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What a Year
Well, today I will write as it is. No rewrites, just what I have as it comes, glad to have you here. Where do I start… Today, a friend convinced me she got married, and for a split second, well, it was more than that, for an hour or two, I was so happy for her. I told my mom excitedly. I was a sucker for love. Wondering on the way, doesn’t it happen?. And so in this application, she’s getting married in another, she’s laughing at how we are convinced she is. Am I sad? I'm not. I was genuinely happy for her. And here I was ready to give love a second chance. Anyway, that aside. 2025 was quite a year. Full of plot twists, new doors, new friends, and so much more. But most of all, this year showed me just who I am. And as much as I am tempted to put it all out, well, whatever law is there says don’t say too much. And so I will not. So let us highlight a few things, shall we? This year I gave love two chances; one to whom I wanted me, and the second to whom I wanted to be. Did I get a...
✨ The Red Notebook ✨
✨ The Red Notebook ✨ This book is more than just a book to me. It holds my dreams, my past, and the future I still hope to build. Hi, if we haven’t met yet, my name is Jayda, and yes… you’re on my mind today. I would start with a once upon a time , but let’s be serious. Back in 2021–2022, I cannot believe it has already been three years; I was just a Form 3/4 kid with very little knowledge of the world outside. But the world in my head? Perfect. I was navigating high school drama, failed friendships, and this deep desire to be the best. I got lost in poems I wrote, fantasies I created… I was a dreamer. An avid one at that. One day, I wrote my dreams down. The world I envisioned. I had three projects: The Turkana/Samburu Water Project , The Air Purifier , The Kibera Project . I felt like I could revolutionize Kenya. I would drift off during lessons just to write what could be done, how it could look, and the progress I imagined. I felt unstoppable. And then came the plans...
I Graduated, Even When I Felt Invisible
Graduation... It’s been almost a month since our ALX Pathway Cohort One graduation, and I said I’d write something small about how I felt, how it went, lessons I learned, and all that. After days of battling imposter syndrome and the what-ifs, here I am. When I started in October 2024, the first term felt simple. We were cruising, minding our business. I was the ghost student behind the laptop while also being on campus, leading at JKUPMSA, and serving as an EST manager for AIESEC in Uganda. I was juggling a lot, but I always told myself I could make it. I finished tasks and hit milestones on time, and I loved that feeling. Then came term two. The units were broken down deeper, and I felt like crying and cheering at the same time. I knew that when it came to the real deal, I’d be able to cruise through my campus coursework. So I pushed through, fed by the same stubborn fire battling deadlines and wrestling with Linux commands. Exams started creeping up and, for some reason, I ...
The Wins No One Sees
Today, I want to write about wins. But the words feel heavy in my throat. Maybe it’s because I haven’t felt like I’ve won anything lately. A friend of mine just graduated. Another built an app. Another is out there growing. And here I am, still trying to finish a small project that hasn’t even left the “open tab” stage. I want to be proud of them, and I am. Genuinely. But their wins feel like full-blown fireworks, while mine feel like silent flickers, if they even exist. So I sat down and asked myself, “What have you accomplished?” And the answers were painfully quiet. I survived today. I got out of bed after staring at the ceiling for an hour. I replied to a message I had been avoiding. I didn’t cry in public. I smiled, genuinely, for five seconds. I wrote three words before writer’s block hit again. I didn’t give up. Those were my wins. They may not come with applause, certificates, or updates worth sharing on social media, but they mattered. They mattered to me. And all this is ha...
Catching Up with Jayda: Growth, Grace, and a Little Chaos
It’s Been a While... It’s been a year since I last wrote. This writing journey isn’t easy, especially when you’re still figuring out your niche. But until then, prepare to see me everywhere. Hi guys, it’s me, Jayda, back again with yet another experience worth sharing. Well, this time it’s more of a catch-up: what I’ve been up to and why some things are still in the pipeline. This chapter feels quite reflective—it’s shown me just how important it is to be proactive, and just how exhausting it can be trying to be everywhere at once. I’ve done leadership. I’ve been an inactive member. I’ve even tried the silent student route. Let’s just say—it’s been a ride. So let’s dive in, shall we? For those who don’t know, I had the honour of serving in the Jomo Kenyatta University Project Management Students Association—first as Vice Chair, and later as Chair, from February 2023 to April 2025. This experience has shaped me deeply: as a leader, as a student, and most of all, as a human being. I beli...
Weekend One: Finding My Way in Kigali
Weekend 1. Weekend 1: Kigali Vibes and Quiet Lessons Yo yo yo, what’s up, my readers? You’ve probably already seen what a regular week as a volunteer looked like for me, so today, I’m bringing you into my weekends. To me, every weekend felt like an adventure—and more often than not, a lesson in disguise. So let’s head into Kigali. Oh, and for those still unsure, it’s pronounced Chi-ga-li. Yes, I was saying it wrong before too. That Friday, we joined in on the Day of the African Child celebration. It was held at a refugee campsite offered by UNHCR here in Rwanda. Journey House Africa had been invited for the event, and the mood was vibrant. After a few presentations, we began the walk to the chief’s camp, chanting along in both Kinyarwanda and Somali. Even without fully understanding the languages, I felt so connected to the moment. It was heartwarming. The walk was supposed to go on much longer, but we had to cut it short to make it to Kigali before dark. From Gashora to Kiga...