By Blessing Twiine
Nakalema Jane Patricia, a proud graduand with a Bachelor of Business Administration with an Accounting major with a GPA of 4.53 is the embodiment of determination and faith. Her journey to and through Uganda Christian University (UCU) is a powerful testament to believing in one’s dreams and leveraging the supportive environment of a Christian institution.
“Before enrolling to UCU, it was my dream to come to this university and experience the Christian-based values,” Patricia shared. She is grateful for the opportunity, noting that having a prior diploma from Uganda College of Commerce, Tororo, helped ease her transition.
Patricia found a sense of familiarity and support when she arrived. “When I came into UCU, God blessed me. I found my friend Shablinah who has also got a first class and is overall best student, with whom we studied from the same college,” she recalled. The determined spirit she and her friend brought, coupled with UCU’s Christian foundation, created a nurturing environment. “We grew up in our faith and religion because it strengthened our faith values.“
When asked what she’ll miss most, Patricia’s response was heartfelt: “First of all, I’ll miss the worship days, the community worship we always have, the library, wow. “We learned a lot of things from our friends, and also the different programs we have at UCU groomed us and made us become what we are right now and what we are going to be in future.”
Patricia also credits the university’s resources for her success: “Our hard work to achieve this has been the environment because we have the free environment that we access the internet all the time when we want to do our research, we want to read.”
Patricia sees UCU as an empowering place: “It’s a very good university because it empowers us to be what we want to be if you know your visions and when you have dreams that you have to meet it helps you come out with what you need to be.”
After she graduates, Patricia is looking to make a difference. “What next is to go out there and look for opportunities that can be impactful for the education I’ve got,” she stated confidently. Her educational journey is far from over, as she is already planning for a master’s degree and hopes to “probably even come back to UCU.”
Drawing on her successful experience, Nakalema Jane Patricia offers valuable advice for all students, emphasizing three key pillars; faith, friends, and mentors. She urges students to prioritize faith by regularly attending community worship, which she believes helps keep one grounded and in the right position while at the university. Equally important is the deliberate choice of good friends, those who actively push and encourage you toward your goals, noting that her own success was largely due to a hardworking, supportive friend. Finally, she advises students to seek mentorship from their lecturers, viewing them as the best mentors available, and encouraging students to overcome any fear to network and reach out for help when problems arise.