Alex Lushaba

Last week Saturday, I travelled to Siteki with a few close friends to spend time with students at Good Shepherd High School. This year has honestly been one of the busiest and toughest years of my life, with very little time to spare, but deep inside me I had already decided that no matter how demanding life becomes, I would still dedicate one Saturday to this school. Good Shepherd has been requesting my visit for years, and I am grateful I finally honoured that commitment.

What a beautiful and powerful session we had. From the moment we arrived, the warmth from the teachers, the energy from the students, and the atmosphere within the school touched my heart. I met passionate and supportive teachers, grounded and positive headteachers, and people who genuinely care about changing young lives through education. One of the highlights for me was meeting what I can confidently call one of the best Literature teachers in the country. The passion she carries, the love she has for students, and the belief she has in education was deeply inspiring. You could immediately see that for her, teaching is not just a job, it is a calling.

For almost four hours, I had honest conversations with the students about life, academics, discipline, sacrifice, dreams, and purpose. We spoke deeply about having a vision for your life before the world decides one for you. We spoke about pursuing academic excellence with endurance and consistency, even when things become difficult. I challenged them to choose friends wisely because the people around you can either build your future or slowly destroy it. I reminded them that many of the struggles they face today are temporary sacrifices for a future they have not yet seen but must continue believing in. Most importantly, I encouraged them not to spend their entire lives blaming where they come from. Some of us come from painful environments, poverty, rejection, and difficult backgrounds, but our beginnings must never become prisons. The future is still waiting to be created by us.

Not every student in that room will remember every word I said, and not all of them will apply the lessons immediately. But over the years I have learnt that if even a few truly listen, believe, and act, entire generations can change. As I left Siteki that afternoon, I felt hopeful again because inside those classrooms are future leaders, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and nation builders. Sometimes all a child needs is one conversation, one moment of belief, and one reminder that their life can become greater than their current circumstances. And for me, that will always be worth the journey.

I would like to sincerely thank the entire Good Shepherd High School family for the warm welcome, the love, and the opportunity to spend time with such brilliant young minds. My prayer is that the school continues to grow from strength to strength and produces excellent academic results and even greater human beings for our country. May God continue blessing the leadership, the teachers, and every staff member carrying the responsibility of shaping futures every single day.

To the parents, thank you for continuing to fight for your children, even during difficult times. Parenting is not easy, but your sacrifices, prayers, guidance, and support matter more than you may ever realise. I wish you strength, wisdom, and peace as you continue raising the next generation of leaders, professionals, and nation builders.

And to the students, keep believing, keep pushing, and keep dreaming. Your current situation is not your final destination. The future is still waiting for you.