Life is all about making choices that lead us to our dreams. But what do we do when our parents are not on the same page when it comes to career choices?

This is the message four-year-old Beulyn Schola, a Pre-Primary 2 (PP2) pupil, shares as she recites her poem in preparation for the National Drama Festival to be held in Mombasa this month.

The young star has a good command of the language and is truly a young actress in the making.

Her posture, audibility, narrative flow, stage command and big smile must have caught the attention of the judges at the regional level to award her a place in the national competition.

Mtaa Wangu was able to visit Schola at her school, Adorn Growland Schools in Ngata, where she performed her poem on 'My Teacher'.

Beulyn Schola performs her poem at Adorn Growland Schools in Ngata.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

The dramatised poem is about career choices and the influence of parents on their children's career paths.

The solo play is about a girl (Schola) who dreams of becoming a teacher because she admires her class teacher.

However, a conflict arises because her mother wants her to follow the same career path as her, that of a doctor.

The young girl is brave enough to tell her mother that she doesn't want to treat people and give injections.

With the help of her teacher, she persuades her mother to allow her to become a teacher. The poem ends with her rejoicing at being able to live her dream after talking to her mother.

Although the play is dramatised, it reflects what is happening directly to young people in society.

Schola came first in the regional competition held in Kitale in March 2023, which attracted students from 14 districts in the region.

"I love the poem and I enjoy presenting it. I want to go to Mombasa and win the trophy while taking the message to a wider audience out there. I want children to believe in their dreams and start working on them when they are young," said Schola.

According to her teacher Mrs Susan Makale, although Schola's dream is to become a pilot, she wrote the play that captures many children like her.

"The play is meant to advise parents to let their children follow their dreams and even support them where they can," she added.

To balance her education and poetry, Schola is an active member of the Drama Club, where she trains every evening after class, an initiative that has seen her excel not only in poetry but also academically.

Schola says that although she is new to the performing arts, her parents have supported her in all her endeavours by exposing her to public forums, taking her to local studios to showcase her talents and encouraging her to read newspapers.

wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

Four year old to represent Nakuru at National Drama Festival

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Purity Kinuthia