“I get quite a number of emails asking to share my story, mentorship requests and some seeking advice. I thought to share where it all began for for me. The very beginning” – @JoyDoreenBiira
In each one of us lies an untapped ability, (some call it potential) to achieve whatever we set our minds to.
When I was asked to write this article by one of my High School Teachers “Ntaka”, short for Ntakarimaze, I thought to myself, “What will I write about that will inspire young people?” And then I remembered that it was at an early age – in my teens precisely, that I had the freedom to explore my abilities outside the academics.
The foundation for my potential was set by my O’level (Ordinary Level) school, Kyebambe Girls School where I was an active teen at school; I played chess, badminton, did drama acting, read news at assembly, participated in debate and fine art clubs, sung in Scripture Union and more. In a nutshell, I did a galaxy of things like most teenagers do when given the opportunity. This was all done between the ages of 13 – 16.
My O’Level was a ‘try-it-all’ phase of my teens but it was during my A’ Level (Advanced Level) Education, at Immaculate Heart High School that I was given the platform to do what I loved doing besides academic studies. And that was telling the school what was making news around the country and world. In my day, this was a form of entertainment, actually!
Allow me take you back a bit. During my F.4 vacation (the long break taken between F.4 & F.5 in the Uganda Education System), my Father thought I was idle and needed something to keep me busy besides helping Mom at the Tea shop/Restaurant she ran. He took me to Messiah Radio, a radio station in Kasese my hometown, spoke to management there and asked if they would let me learn some of the things that happen at a Radio station. I was asked a few questions and asked to return the following day to learn. A week later I was asked to read news at 5 & 6pm. I was 16 years old.
I read news for about five minutes three times a week. For me it was the ideal pass time during F.4 vacation. For every bulletin I read I was paid less than dollar. In fact my transport fare to the station was more than what I was paid. I didn’t pay much attention to the pay – I was a teenager excited to learn the ropes e.g. how preparations were done for shows, how the studio equipment worked, how presenters spoke through the microphone, how different they sounded from the News Readers, how they balanced humour on one hand and felt the pain of callers on the other and much more.
I watched the News Manager John Nzinjah (RIP) passionately typed out the news on the old fashioned typewriter with two index fingers despite having computers in the newsroom, as he whistled traditional folk songs while pausing in-between to explain to me the process to me. I observed how quickly radio presenters switched to playing music off cassette tapes as stand by measures when the systems went mute. The staff were fantastic, always willing to help and teach. It was fun and interesting. I gained tons of knowledge and it was a great pass time for the teenager I was. This was my very first job.
Months later, my vacation was over and I had to go back to school.
When I enrolled for A’Level (Advanced Level) at Immaculate Heart High School, I was excited to be in a new school. Weeks into it, the then Communications Minister (Prefect) came to my class (F.5 Arts) and asked me to read news the next morning during assembly. Back then, newspapers were availed to the student leaders by the school administration and one would be required to write the news on foolscaps after browsing through the day’s news.
Damn, I was nervous! She had written the news and handed me the foolscaps a few minutes before the assembly. Assembly time came, prayers were said and the next thing on the agenda was: Joy Doreen Biira reading news. Walking from where I stood to the stage/podium up there was the longest walk my teen self in a new school had ever had to take but I got up there. I introduced myself and read the news for about 6 minutes. And as soon as I was done reading, even after ‘swallowing’ some of the words, all I could here was the sound of applause.
That one day, just that day, won me a ticket to being the unopposed communications minister to succeed the prefect who had asked me to read news in front of hundreds of students. . And I did that for 2 years and during that time I often extended the same opportunity to a number of younger students. we called them ‘the early birds’ (F.1 – F.4s). After my form 6, I left high School, took another long vacation before joining University.
When I joined Makerere University, I was admitted to pursue a Bachelor of Information Technology degree as a privately sponsored student. It is important to note that I was a HEG/A student in high school (History, Economics, Geography & Fine Art). Even I wondered why I was admitted for a science course when my first choice was Mass communication, Industrial Fine Art the second, and Information Technology the third. I do not recall the other 3 courses after the third (they were six options). Nevertheless, I went ahead with what I was admitted for – B. IT.
While pursuing this course I always snuck into Mass communication lectures and spent time at the department’s Campus FM studio where I would train each time I got the chance to do so. The head of that department noticed my interest and encouraged me to keep going to the station. I’d make time in the morning hours to sneak into the mass communication radio department and attend my Information Technology lectures in the evening, . I was, as many of us call it, “going after my passion”
(To be continued in Part 2 – Double learning at University)
Great…👍👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Cn
LikeLike
Can’t wait for part two. This sounds awesome
LikeLiked by 1 person
hope you found it
LikeLike
Interesting piece. First heard your voice on the Morning breeze of NBS!
It rivalled my favourites on Deutsche Welle TV and BBC worldservice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You Samuel… Appreciate the feedback
LikeLike
Above all, I thank yuh for having shared your journey career. But the worst in yuh statement is that yuh didn’t attend to kasese schools . This now comes to understand why kasese leadership is against parents who take their best performing students to schools out kasese” mind you , now selling likes of immaculate heart but easy, these best schools shaped yuh career to your desire.
Request :
Help the young talented and show them the road to success . we love and remember you at times of kasese massacre.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did attend schools in Kasese. All of my elementary learning was there. Namhuga, Kilembe Jnr Boarding and Kasese Primary Schools
LikeLike
Great. Thanks for sharing. Many pple probably look at where you are and imagine it was all handed to u on a silver plate…hahah. Am waiting for the part that i know. Waiting for part 2.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha yeah that part is coming possibly in part 3 or 4 hehe
LikeLike
Joy Doreen this is so inspiring i remember those day at the coffee shop and kyebambe Girls , i remember tuning on to radio Messiah and boom it Joy Doreen Biira reading the news and one time i came and asked you how you do it. you said its passion and indeed this passion has taken you places. Big up Joy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot Charles. Indeed God has His ways
LikeLike
I love your story. Its well told. I would like to give you an opportunity to share live this story at a breakfast meeting of the Fellowship for Development Team. They are 12 professionals, all them I’m their first year if career. I am their career and personal development mentor and coach . mosesitwe@gmail.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
coming in a little too late but I’d love that 🙂
LikeLike
You have a gift, I read everything and love the way you made me feel like I was literally living your life with you.
Can’t wait for the next part.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bashir, thank you. I thought by sharing I’d inspire even just one person
LikeLike
I love you even more.Not many people have lived their dreams.some are take different routes and live unhappy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In Part 2 I will share more about this
LikeLike
I love you even more.Not many people have lived their dreams.some take different routes and live unhappy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some call it chasing a dream, others passion … I’m still trying to find a name for it
LikeLike
Inspiring, waiting part 2
LikeLiked by 1 person
Prt 2 is coming soon Godwin, thanks for the Feedback
LikeLike
You really knew what you wanted.. atleast we have somethings in common, badminton and home district. However, I don’t think I can do well in reading news.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At that point, I actually had no clue …I was just fascinated by things and paying attention to anything that was worth learning.
LikeLike
Inspiring indeed..This brought back the memories.. Waiting for part 2
LikeLiked by 1 person
Share all the memories Phillip so we can relive them
LikeLike
Can’t wait for part 2
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t wait to share it either. Thanks for the feedback
LikeLike
Interesting and encouraging story, can’t wait for part 2.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you Vianey. There is going to be a part Prt 2 (a) and (b)
LikeLike
Interesting and encouraging story ,can’t wait for part 2
LikeLiked by 1 person
its up
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Kiiza Alexander and commented:
Ah, looking forward to Part II
LikeLiked by 1 person
hope you found part 2 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for inspiring me Joy,yes mukwekamba tutaba bagara
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, a very rare motto haha
LikeLike
Very inspiring story. Can’t wait for part two.
LikeLiked by 1 person
coming soon 😉
LikeLike
Wasigya mumbesa wethu diya Doreen😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
benga diya 🙂
LikeLike
Truly inspiring. It’s indeed paramount for parents to identify talents in their children and help pursue them. Thanks Biira.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Parents play a key role that’s for sure
LikeLike
Patiently waitin for part two. This inspires
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to read about you in Newspapers way back in highschool and then I met you in 2010 around December at the ISIS WICCE function for young mothers where you were emcing alongside Mr. Manyindo. Aaawww!!! I was left heart striken by everything about you especially the way you spoke..I mean your choice of words. Yeah..I was badly inspired to be confident and speak good English..English good enough to land on me on TV for news anchoring. At one point, I purely wanted to pursue Mass Communication after being inspired but I somehow ended up in the science world. All the same, thanks for inspiring me.😍..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ruth. I think we met in 2011 (ISIS-WICCE) event. I’m glad you did science. We need more able young women in that area too. Keep shining and best wishes.
LikeLike
That’s my OG. Go gal. Great heights await for u
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Gillian, may God lead the way
LikeLike
That’s my OG. Go gal. Great heights await for u
LikeLiked by 1 person
My name is Clinton Tumanye and I am currently working/interning at your former work place (NTV Uganda). These might be different times but I believe that it is still an amazing place to learn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Clinton, Hope the internship is worth every while for you. I actually worked with NBS not Ntv.. either way both are great learning spaces. Wish you the very best
LikeLike
Well such life inspiring stories are the spark igniter that many of us need to get off our derrières given the difficult cross roads at which we find ourselves. I vividly remember your mum restaurant and seeing you there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah. It was the holiday ‘occupation’ after school and Mum taught us how to balance the books there… from age 12 I knew how to balance books (expenditureVSprofits)
LikeLike
Thank you for this story of yours. Great and important lessons to learn herein. I look forward to part two.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very inspirational Joy Doreen Biira. Still Patiently waiting for Prt2. Not sure if i just missed it because it was supposed to come last week, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. And no you have not missed it yet. Its up now
LikeLike
Coming right up
LikeLike
Wow…Doreen thanx for sharing. It’s an encouraging article especially to the teenagers.
It’s a good thing to be focused and chase ur dreams. Keep on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you for making time to read through
LikeLike
Thank you Christine.
LikeLike
Truly inspiring. Am happy to say i remember you reading the news bulletin at Immaculate Heart. “Good morning Joy Doreen Biira F.6 Arts” lol thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh wow… thanks for reading through. Hope you’re doing fine
LikeLike
hahahaaa i cant forget how i told u u were meant for the airwaves…in all colors… and calling u mzungu…hahaha kyoka mzungu artist with good vocals… hehehe pushing for that mtn event…the first we had in university..since utl used to dominate with the lumbox week… oh i remember all the memories so vividly…glad u reached and superceeded the stars…keep goin my JDB
LikeLiked by 1 person
eh Joe, some of these memories I couldn’t recall until you mentioned them. Thank you for all the morale boost. I never took it for granted. Best wishes 🙂
LikeLike
So interesting, many thanks. I also Blog at registerforpeace.wordpress.com.
You can always guide.
Kamalha,
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awesome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very Interesting and Inspiring content Joy Doreen Biira
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you so much
LikeLike
Nice article Doreen, it’s so encouraging. Truly in each one of us, lies an untapped ability to achieve whatever we set our minds to. God bless
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for taking time to read through and glad the write up encouraged someone out there. Don’t give up on what you set your mind to do
LikeLike
Waiting for part 11
LikeLiked by 1 person
it’s up … that is Prt 2 the link is right at the bottom of prt 1
LikeLike