And one of my major highlights was that I was able to grow Tik Tok followers from 6000 to over 11,000. The opportunity came from being a participant in the KCB lion’s den 2019 where I pitched the blog I had been running out of interest. I could not believe it when Kevin Mulei, one of the judges, seconded my “All things Kiki Magazine”. Capital FM is a good space to be but over time I felt I needed more to be better. This called for a conversation with my family and though it was not easy then, I am glad I left. Although it was something I enjoyed doing then, I had to let go. My experiences will never go to waste because they helped me discover other opportunities out there like becoming more informed by acquiring a good education.
What can you share about your family?
I come from a blended family. Experts define it as a family where one or both parents may become a step-parent. It calls for all members to adjust while the whole family relearns how to interact and socialize while discovering where they fit. Like any family, mine is woven together by choice, strengthened by love, tested by everything, and it is uniquely ours. I get to be an elder sister to my four-year-old brother. If you have a 4 year old – you can attest that they say the dandiest thing and you become the coolest person they know. That wide smile and excitement when we meet and hug never gets old. He is my little man and a source of energy when my batteries are low.
Have you always been a go-getter?
No, but I have been making an effort to discover who I am and what I would like to be and through it, I am becoming more self-assured. I remember when I was in high school, I used to be bullied. How one purposes to be ruthless to others is still something I cannot comprehend. I do not know about you, but my high school experience was one I didn’t enjoy much. Apart from the bullies’ encounters, the so-called “body is changing” and the wave of emotions that came with it was not a consolation for me either. But thanks to my blog, I had a venting avenue that allowed me to put my energy for positive fits. Bullies will always be there but I encourage you to seek help when needed. As a Gen Z, bullying is settling in the social media platform – where success is defined by affiliations and “stuff” but I urge you to take time to find the greater person within you when all else is skinned from you.
Tatiana Njeri is the name my parents gave me and I am glad to have a family that supports what I do and allows me to learn from the opportunities that come my way. At 19, there is still a lot to learn about life and that is why I support Dave Willis’s famous quote that “family is not defined only by last names or by blood; it’s defined by commitment and by love”. It means showing up when they need it most, having each other’s backs, and choosing to love each other even on those days when you struggle to like each other. But above all, it means never giving up on each other.
Tatiana is now a first year student in the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies programme.
This article was written by Annete Karanja.
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