My Fortunate friend

 By Prim K. Tumuramye

A few years ago, this young man submitted his application to my office for internship placement. Having gone through the required stages, he was offered the internship opportunity. This meant that he would work directly under my supervision. We live at a time where procrastination and laziness arguably best describe most young folks. A generation that thinks that milk comes from the fridge, not the cow and a people bitten by the ‘instant’ bug. Just as there is the magical instant coffee, this breed believes that life should only offer ‘instants.’ From the quest for instant academic papers, instant six figure jobs to instant spouses this breed lives in denial of reality. To say that my new intern was far above the normal college intern would be an understatement. This instantly drew me to deliberately mentor him in his career journey. This was not because I too suffered from the ‘instant’ bug effects but because I know for a fact that his kind in this generation is a rare gem, actually they qualify to be an endangered species. His procrastinating peers thought that he was simply fortunate!

For an internship that was meant to be unpaid for, a few months down the road the intern had become such an asset that his valuable contribution had to be rewarded. His zeal to learn, humility to be corrected and assertiveness to get what he wants made him such an outstanding intern to work with. There is no greater pain than supervising a visible liability in an organisation. I am glad that I supervised a soul that I knew was not draining life out me but with no fruit to show for my effort. For the peers that saw how the intern was moving up the ladders, again they thought that he was simply fortunate again. Little did they know that to be churned to what he was then, he went through episodes of bounced reports, tough assignments and deadly deadlines.

The Banyakigezi have a saying that even a good dancer finally leaves the dance floor. Finally the internship period came to an end. I look back in amazement at how time flies. Speaking about servant leadership, Dr. Dickson Obwoya (Life Ministry, Uganda) said that some leaders are bent on finishing the unfinished work of Lucifer. I am glad that as a leader, my purpose and calling is so clear; that whatever I do, I do to the glorification of God. The internship supervision assignment of this young man was one of the opportunities that came my way in my lifetime. If this was a test, I definitely passed it with flying colors. To the leaders in the business of finishing Lucifer’s unfinished business, they think I was just a fortunate supervisor!

The intern under my supervision later on graduated, what a joy it is to watch someone you care about reach the finish line. For his classmates who did not make it to the graduation list in their scheduled time, they thought he had simply been fortunate again. As one who had trekked that paths before, I knew this was not about fortune but hard work being rewarded.

Months after graduation my former intern joined the marketplace. To say that his work is evident is to say the least. He makes the employer proud. Sometimes I am tempted to think that I was the unfortunate supervisor that failed to retain this rare gem. I am quickly reminded of what my mother taught me when I was growing up; if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Who knows, my friend could be fortunate to be where he currently is!

Many years after our paths crossed, fate or the hand of chance brings us together again. On July 01, as I celebrate the birthday of the man of my youth, my former intern will traditionally be receiving the woman of his youth. What a sweet coincidence. For his age-mates, they will say that he is being fortunate yet another time. For me that has walked closely with this young man, I know that this is beyond being merely fortunate. It is the fruit of living a focused and purpose driven life.

Fortunate Kay, may you remain on track. Marriage is not for the fainthearted. May God grant you wisdom on how to live in your next stage of life. Sadly, for you and me, there is no internship in marriage. We all learn on the job. I wish you a wonderful enrolment into this institution.

 

Tumuramye Dickson and I will be your happy schoolmates.

 

©Prim K. Tumuramye

29^th June 2017

Prim is a Christian, wife, mother and Communications Specialist at Compassion International. She is passionate about reading, writing, youth mentorship and intentional parenting.