My name is Lelian David, better known as Lily Flower. Born in Rundu and grew up in Windhoek, I am a Namibian female, with a passion for leadership development. I was raised by dedicated and hardworking parents who ensured we always had enough to send me to school, despite their humble earnings.
I am the second youngest of nine siblings and I am pursuing an engineering dream despite the fact that my parents could never have afforded my studies. Today, I have two degrees to my name and I am currently pursuing a third one. All this has been made possible through scholarship awards.
I grew up in Grootfontein and attended primary school at Makalani Primary School. After completing grade 7, I moved on to Grootfontein Secondary School to pursue the next level of education. From grade 8 to 10, I received a number of school awards such as highest in a certain subject and Junior Academic colors.
Eish guys, me I'm tired. Ironically, I'm even typing this at 01h48 am after a long day of hosting a beauty pageant, finishing an assignment for Services Marketing, performing a comedy set AND planning operations for the Marketing Society's stalls at the Career Fair…since I'm president of the Marketing Society on top of everything else! Aiye man guys me I'm tired!
With the academic year in full swing, we are now bombarded with tests, assignments are due, and for students who are employed, work is demanding its fair share of attention. For Honours students it’s time to embark on the special journey of deciding on a research topic in order to make new beginnings of valuable contributions to the research world. Although scary, understanding that you have an opportunity to make a difference is a good place to be in. You will have to answer challenging questions such as which areas you excel in and where your contribution is most needed.
I have always wanted to go abroad, live in a different country and be away from my family and friends. I finally got this opportunity when I was selected to go study abroad in Germany for a semester and for the first time in my life I felt at home in a strange and foreign place.
Everything was completely different but amazing. I loved it in Europe, it’s peaceful and welcoming. It is amazing how they use all modes of transport; so many people use bicycles. I can't ride a bicycle and tried learning once but it didn't work, I guess I was not committed enough.
Cutting your dreadlocks after two years, moving out of your parent’s home or deciding to pursue a new degree all seem scary at first; change is uncertain and filled with plenty of grey areas. But what we never realise is that we have the ability and chance to fill those grey areas. I have always been a rational thinker, I will weigh options 100 times before I conclude and even then I will try to find something hidden in between. Although one would argue and say that rational thinking is an important attribute I would argue otherwise in most cases.
God has entrusted me with a lot of responsibilities and being a mother is one that I do not take for granted. As a student and a mother my life is quite unique from most other undergraduate students around me.
It has definitely not been an easy ride so far. Studying and working at the same time is exhausting. Grinding to the bone. I just completed my first semester exams for a three-year course, and what a relief it is to be able to breathe again.
I went back to school this year in order to strengthen my skills and abilities in my field of expertise, and for the next three years, I will have to endure the exhaustion and stand strong against the challenges I have been facing for the past few months.
It is around that time of the year when student life begins to be so annoying and traumatic. Oh yeah its winter, darn! And on top of that I need to study to earn good grades. That automatically means that I need to face the cold nights wrapped in a blanket and perhaps some gloves, but will I be able to page through all the loads of books with them on?
