ALU- A Space for Growth

The other day I went to my residence’s rooftop for one of my end-of-the-day reflections under the night sky. This is by far my most favorite time of the day as the sight of glimmering stars in the dark is mesmerizing, almost enchanting. My day had been no less eventful. Earlier in the day I attended one of our weekly meetups as a member of the poetry society. During the session we exchanged poems so that a different person would perform or read your poem.

It was the ultimate moment of vulnerability as you wouldn’t know if the other person would appreciate your efforts, value your work or understand your feelings. What happened afterwards, words can hardly describe. By stepping in each other’s shoes and trying to express their grief, love, happiness, loneliness, we allowed ourselves to be vulnerable with each other. Some people gained new friends, others bonded deeper than they ever did before.

More amazing, though, is the fact ALU is about moments like this. Just a few weeks before, we had a virtual bonfire at one of our residences where we shared things we were grateful for about each other. ALU is not just work and fun, it is a family. Here you have friends who are willing to push you out of your comfort zone and appreciate you for who you are, however unworthy or bad you may be feeling about yourself.

The effect it has had on me as an individual, blessed enough to be part of this community, is that I am not scared to try out new things, to express myself, to talk to a friend or ask for a hug when I need it. I can freely share my ideas without the fear of being judged, and I can count on my friends to be supportive as well as to give me honest and constructive feedback on how I can make my ideas or work better.

So if you are looking for a school that offers a safe space for growth, a place for you to understand who you are, where you are from and how much you are worth, a family, reliable friends, if you are ready to step out of your comfort zone, African Leadership University is the place for you.