Skip to main content

DO NOT LET EDUCATION WAIT.

“Why are you studying at your age?” is a question I always receive.

While others intentionally discontinue their education, I had never thought of studying in my later years, except because of the circumstances I faced. I am an education enthusiast and enjoy learning new things and reading books. I have a strong ambition for my people and my country. To date, I have not reached that level because of interruptions in my education. I was forced to attend a high school where I failed to redefine my career; all that happened because of the terms and conditions of my sponsorship. Those who have grown up without fathers and have lived as refugees can attest to what I mean. All that you get on your plate is food, so you ought to eat without complaints.

I do regret studying at this age, given the workload and mental strain. But I am now moving toward what I had dreamed of several years ago. I am glad that I reconnected with the chain and will surely be enmeshed in it. If you ask me, I would not advise you to take full-time courses at forty or above in any school. Ideally, by the age of forty, one should be a consultant or a specialist in one's profession. That explains the value of education. However, if you do face hardships as I did, you do not need an excuse not to rejoin school when an opportunity becomes available.

Many young people today abandon school and pursue businesses that deliberately strangle their ambitions. Teenagers feel that education is expensive, although they have full support from their parents. This is a deception. The expensive part of life is idleness and indulgence in social disorders. It becomes real when you get married! Sometimes opportunities present themselves only to find you in an incapable state. Must you be a liability or an asset to your own life?

Yes, I am in school because I have a serious ambition to achieve. I will definitely make it within the next ten years. In the next six years, I am working to obtain a doctorate in a field I promised to pursue thirty years ago. That would find me in my late forties. Do not let education wait if you have full support from your parents or well-wishers. Otherwise, it will cost you your mental health, family relationships, and professional career. Avoid being a liability!

End 

Sir, Abunerry 

Writer, Critic, and Poet

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A NEW ERA FOR NIMULE: Appreciation for the Mayor's Efforts.

HW: Hon. Fuli Caesar.   Nimule Bylaw... a great development.  4th Sept. 2025 In March, the state government designated Nimule Town Council as a municipal council. This move sparked mixed reactions among the community; some supported it while others opposed it. As a long-time resident of Nimule, I understand the complexities of this decision. Building on this development, I'd like to share my perspective on the town's progress. With over twenty years of living in Nimule, I've witnessed many issues that have hindered the town's progress. Previous leaders implemented policies that failed to drive real improvement. They collected taxes, but tangible benefits and developments within the town remained in the grave. I've contributed to the town's development through voluntary clean-ups with some youth groups (ICYA, YPCC) and advocacy efforts, calling for bylaws to protect local businesses and residents from exploitation.   However, with your leadership, Your Worshi...

RESPONSE TO ENG. JOSEPH GAMA OKELLO: Context and Consideration of Palestinians

By Abunerry, Ayella John Bosco 19th August 2025 On 18th August 2025, Eng. Joseph Gama stated, “I'm for the resettlement of Palestinians in South Sudan. It must be organised with opportunities for them to integrate into the communities. Those of you who have been refugees and got opportunities to resettle in Australia, America, Canada, etc., will agree with me. Our perceptions from the liberation struggle against the Arabs shouldn't cloud our hearts for humanity.” I wish to respond to Eng. Gama based on three of his strengths: his intellect, his government authority as an official, and his role as a community leader. This response is not an attack but rather rooted in mutual love for patriotism and a correct understanding of what a public figure like him should embody. 1. As an intellectual, Gama can analyse situations in the Middle East and reach tangible conclusions. However, he has diminished his intellectual stature. He did not distinguish between the need to relocate ...

UNMASKING THE RED BELT: Community Defense or Security Threats

WHY IS EQUATORIA MENTIONED? September 2, 2025 Many South Sudanese tribes have vigilante groups, particularly in cattle-keeping communities. Based on their mandates, it is clear that each group aims to protect and defend its community from neighbouring raiders. Communities like the Dinka, Nuer, and Murle have such groups, and their long-standing conflicts over resources suggest this is a survival mechanism. From my experience, South Sudan's community insecurity worsened in 2017 when the economy collapsed due to unresolved civil conflicts. Youths formed groups with different names, such as the Toronto, West Coasts, Black Mambas, and Invincible Scorpions, in Juba and other major cities. In Nimule, many of these youths brought ideas from Juba's Sherikat suburb after escaping arrest or internal disputes. Today, gangs are widespread in major towns and cities.   Recently, the Red Belt group emerged in Bor, disrupting a peaceful tournament and attacking the National Security Servic...