Letter to my younger Brothers and Sisters : Word before you go back to school

By Ivy Chibanda

My dear brothers and sisters

The holidays are almost over and I am sure you can’t wait to go back to school. Opening day is going to seem short as everyone will be eager to share their experiences during the vacation: how you traveled to another country, how you had the perfect Christmas, how you met up with who at the movies and all.

Some stories will be true but for some, they will have to make up stories so as to fit in with the rest. My dear brothers and sisters, in as much as you can’t wait to go back to school to show off, never forget the reason why you are going to school in the first place.

Am sure all of you are aware of the term that’s trending these days, ‘January Disease’. For those who didn’t know, people suffer from January disease after over spending in December. Usually, parents overspend on their children so that the children have the perfect Christmas holidays and so they get the best experiences which gives you the chance to go and show off at school. It is the unconditional love that makes them knowingly overspend, they will always find a way out when the school rush begins.

Right now, most parents are running around, looking for loans to cover your school fees and buy you tuck and school uniforms so that you are very comfortable at school, so that you find no reason to fail when all was provided for. My dearests, your aim should be to make your parents find a good reason to sacrifice for you by working hard in school.

Count yourself blessed that you are going to school. Most kids your age are praying to just be in class, they do not mind having a torn uniform or having no pocket money to take to school. Yet here you are, blessed enough to go to school but you are busy worrying which cereal to take to school this semester, or to show off with the new uniform or the new watch an aunt from overseas brought you. Focus on what matters, that is studying hard and getting good grades.

Am sure some girl out there is trying to find ways to win the heart of the coolest guy in school. Happiness will be the day she receives a letter from ‘Mr Hot Guy’ (am not sure if you still write each other letters with the advent of technology).

My sister, while you are being distracted by that guy during study, as soon as he leaves you and goes to bed, he doesn’t go to sleep, he is busy studying to get a bright future yet there you are, blushing and smiling and rereading the six words he wrote to you on the piece of paper he tore from a book that his parents’ bought for him.

There’s a time for everything, even the bible says so. Why would you focus on relationships that will only distract you from your books when you are way too young to think about marriage. Take your time, do the correct things at the correct time and all will be well for you in the end.

AIDS is real, I am sure you all know about it and you have heard enough but my dears, it doesn’t affect people out there, it affects both you and me. Take care of yourselves and never be tempted by the sugar mummies and daddies, they have nothing to offer other than taking your precious time. The things they have to offer don’t last long, they might make you enjoy at this moment but they ruin your future. It might not make sense now but in the end, it will.

Appreciate what you have, what your parents gave you because they gave you their all. If they had more they would have given you but that is the best they could. Take care of the little that you have and learn to budget that. It will sustain you till the end of term.

Learn to budget up until visiting day and avoid those mid term calls to parents asking for more food. It only stresses them out, we all know the economy is bad. Learning to budget at a tender age will make you a better adult.

Choose your friends carefully, don’t let anyone tell you what to do, your parents paid fees for you and you alone. Don’t be influenced into taking drugs or alcohol, there’s nothing thrilling about it, you only lose focus on your school work and fail.

It doesn’t matter to be the kid ‘akasara’, you lose nothing and you gain nothing by being part of the cool squad. People come from different backgrounds, others came to school to just while up time whereas you know the struggle your parents are going through to take you to school. You and you alone know your background, act accordingly. Your parents might be rich but those are their riches, not yours, you have to work hard for yours.

I might go on and on about it all but I just hope you have understood my point. Never forget the reason why you are going to school, appreciate the little that you have and the only way you can return the favor your parents are doing for you is to work hard in school.

Whenever you are about to do something, just think of how your parents would feel if they saw you doing whatever it is you are about to do. If you think they will smile, go ahead, but if you think they won’t like it, just stop. Parents sacrifice a lot, just give them the strength to keep sacrificing by bringing good grades at the end of the term.

I wish you the best and have a great term.

Your Sister from another mother

Ivy