My Name is Talima. I live in Kenya with my aunty and uncle. I had dreams of becoming a maths teacher but to do that I had to finish school. In my final term I had been getting poor grades because after school I had to work at my aunt’s shop. It seemed like I never had time to do my homework or study. In class I found it difficult to answer questions, this made me feel like I wasn’t smart enough. I started to feel sad and insecure. In need of some serious motivation I turned to my big sister who helped me get back on track.

She told me to stay positive and not to let my self-doubt get in the way of my dreams. The world needs maths teachers so giving up wasn’t an option. She believed in me so it was time for me to believe in myself. Here’s what I did next:

Self-belief
Believing in yourself is the first step to turning your dreams into a reality. It all starts with having the right mindset. Stay positive. Stay focused.

Priorities
I had a look at all my grades in the last 3 months and picked the subjects that needed the most attention so I could focus properly. #priorities

Planning
I made a study timetable and shared it with my aunt. I had to cut down my hours at the shop to balance my studying. When she saw I had a plan she was happy to give me some space.

Action
After all my preparation there was only one thing left to do. Study study study! I worked hard and gave it my all. When I got stuck I asked my people for help.

In the end I passed all my exams and graduated! My dream motivated me to keep going. Keeping my eyes on the end goal reminded me that I was capable. Now I’m one step closer to becoming a maths teacher. If you want to make your dreams come true, first you have to believe in your inner strength and abilities. Then create an action plan and take things one step at a time. If a girl like me could make a dream come true then so can you!