It’s been three years since I left Gokomere High School, yet the memories are as vivid as if it’s only a few weeks. I remember the friends I made there, the smells of that wonderful place.
I remember the small hill and large boulders behind my form 1 classroom. I remember the monkeys, young and old, running across the roofs and through the windows.
In my mind I retrace my footsteps, perform the daily and somewhat monotonous routines.
When the nostalgia gets too great I remember the church services, and a part of me feels relieved that it’s over. The morning mass before breakfast was my least favourite- not that I loved the Sunday one anyway.
I remember the Jacaranda trees in full bloom around this time, when the school would have a beautiful soft purple carpet. Only that always meant the beginning of exams.
Sometimes I see faces, faces of friends and teachers long dead. The friends smiling, as they did in life; the teachers stern, as they were in life.
A thousand lessons flash through my mind, a thousand experiences yet one one stands out from the rest:
VINCERE CARITATE
Which is Latin for ‘Conquer with Love’. It is a maxim which, though sometimes not followed, will never be forgotten.
And, if I ever forget all else, I’ll always remember ‘Vincere Caritate’. I’ll always remember to conquer, not with force, intimidation, coercion or bribery but with Love.
Hope you do the same.
Reflections Of An African Youth 
All ‘kids’ from Catholic schools have one thing to remember about their school days- SUNDAY MORNING MASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Waking up at five, cold showers ( sometimes) and screaming prefects reminding you of the price for not doing everything the proper way.
I remember the midweek morning Mass more intensely…
The songs especially, “Glory, glory, glory to God the Highest!”