Hope Away From Home — Aaron’s Baggage to Oxford

We asked our scholars to go back to the moment they packed their luggage in preparation for their journey to Oxford. But instead of clothes and books, we asked them to think about the stories, people, memories, hopes, and all immaterial things that they would put inside. Find other stories in this series here.

I bring with me to Oxford immense hope, the hope I learned from my mother. Coming from a challenging background and community, my mother always hoped for the best while working to make ends meet for us. As a housewife, she always struggled, with little or without support to see that her children go to school, and have basic needs. Even if there’s nothing to eat one day, she always had a strong belief that the next day everything will be better.

My mother always told me and my siblings, stories of hope-- how she was able to walk through difficulties, and at each time she became a stronger woman. Right from childhood, I am always inspired by her: an inspiration to work harder, to change my background, and to make the world a better place. From all the struggles now that she is a leader in the local government,  makes me realise that surely once you choose hope, anything is possible and to always walk, no matter what, because it is through walking that paths are created.

Coming to Oxford to me is as a result of hope. I carry forth and strengthens that hope and I strongly believe that going forward, I will use it to change the world and that someone’s hope is rekindled by me.