When Collins Syekei joined the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences (SIMS), he believed intelligence would be enough to succeed. Fresh from high school and confident in his academic abilities, the Financial Engineering student graduating with the Class of 2026 imagined university would simply be the next step in a journey defined by good grades. Four years later, he tells a different story, one shaped by discipline, leadership, resilience, and a deeper understanding of what success truly means.

Although his elder brother had studied at Strathmore before him, Collins admits he did not know what to expect. Drawn to mathematics and finance, he was excited by the possibilities, but beneath the excitement was uncertainty. Like many first-year students, he arrived believing that the habits that had earned him success in high school would naturally carry him through university. “They didn’t,” he says with a smile.

The university quickly challenged that assumption. Collins discovered that the freedom university offers also comes with responsibility. Success requires consistency, discipline, and the willingness to grow beyond natural ability. It was also during this period that he began to appreciate the depth and possibilities within his chosen field.

His decision to pursue Financial Engineering was both practical and personal. Strong in mathematics, Collins was drawn to a field that combined numbers, problem-solving, and diverse career possibilities, from investment analysis and risk management to consulting and portfolio management. “Another reason why I chose Financial Engineering was because I wanted the Engineer title,” he says with a laugh.

The turning point came during his second year when a course on Financial Markets and Institutions transformed the way he understood finance. Learning about derivatives, swaps, options, and futures revealed that finance was more than simple transactions. “I realized finance wasn’t just about simple transactions,” he explains. “It was about solving complex problems.”

As his understanding of finance deepened, so did his approach to learning. Collins describes his second year as a period of shedding, letting go of habits that no longer served him. After achieving some of his strongest academic results and emerging as one of the top-performing students in his class, he realized that success could not be built on intelligence alone. He developed greater discipline, began preparing earlier for examinations, and became more intentional about his goals.

Outside the classroom, another opportunity would shape his university experience. In his fourth year, Collins was elected President of the Strathmore University Finance and Financial Economics Students’ Association (SUFFESA). The role challenged him in ways lectures could not, strengthening his leadership, communication, and organizational skills while teaching him that leadership is ultimately about service.

Looking back, Collins believes his first-year self would hardly recognize the person he became. By the time he completed his studies, he had helped secure sponsorships worth more than KES 300,000 for student initiatives, contributed to strengthening SUFFESA’s impact, and graduated as one of the institute’s top-performing students. Yet Collins believes his greatest growth came not only from his achievements, but also from moments of disappointment. Missing a First Class Honours degree was difficult, but it taught him to separate his identity from academic outcomes. “Accept things as they are,” he reflects, “so they don’t become your personality.”

His final year also brought a difficult season between January and March, when academic, professional, and personal pressures converged. Looking back, Collins considers that period a turning point; one that strengthened his resilience and reminded him that growth often emerges through uncertainty. Another deeply personal experience reshaped his understanding of success: losing a friend to suicide. The experience reinforced for Collins that achievement cannot come at the expense of one’s humanity.

“Academic achievement is not everything,” Collins says. “Mental health and being human matter more than any qualification.” Today, he believes that supporting others, maintaining meaningful relationships, and caring for one’s well-being are achievements just as valuable as academic excellence.

Reflecting on his time at Strathmore, Collins credits the University with helping him become more adaptable, self-aware, and purposeful. His journey taught him that success is not defined by a perfect academic record or a predetermined career path, but by the ability to keep learning, embrace change, and remain grounded in one’s values. To students beginning their university journey, he offers two pieces of advice: “When it comes to academics, identify what works for you. Don’t copy other people’s processes,” he says. “Outside the classroom, be open-minded and ready because life rarely unfolds according to plan.”

As he prepares for the next chapter, Collins hopes to build ventures that promote financial literacy and create opportunities for others. More than professional success, he hopes to be remembered as an ambitious yet compassionate leader whose work positively impacts society. Looking back at the person he was when he first arrived at Strathmore, Collins summarizes his transformation in one sentence: “I used to think you just need to be smart to make it, but now I know it’s really about how you use your brain”. A lesson earned not only through academic achievement, but through leadership, resilience, self-discovery, and the courage to become someone very different from the student who first walked through Strathmore’s gates believing intelligence alone would be enough.

Article written by Maitethia Doreen