I served as a prof at a university in Nairobi for one year. It was a new adventure for me: preparing compelling lectures that introduced students to concepts of culture, communication, sociolinguistics, and literacy. A lot to get across!
My lectures were not at all stale—I finalized them as I walked to the classroom.
No doubt I learned more than the students.
And then, at the end of the year, the staff asked me to emcee the grad banquet.
I thought there must be some mistake. I had no experience leading big events, especially such important ones.
Eventually, I agreed to do it, scared out of my wits.
As it turned out, it was the best grad banquets they ever had.
We laughed and applauded and savored the huge accomplishment of these students—men and women who had grown up in villages, in war zones, in poverty, who persevered and succeeded in getting a college degree.
We loved and admired each other.
And that’s when I discovered that I enjoy leading groups, despite being a shy child. I changed!
