KENYA: Dear Woman I Aspire to Be

In a letter to her future self, Faith vows to become the woman she's always aspired to be, drawing upon storytelling, journalism, and coding to create meaningful change.

Your worth is not defined by what others think or expect of you. It is found in your kindness, resilience, and willingness to keep moving forward, even when the path seems uncertain.

Dear Grown Faith,

As you stand at the edge of tomorrow, know that you are made of the stories of the past, the dreams of the present, and the endless possibilities of the future. You might not have all the answers right now, but the woman you'll become is already within you — quietly growing, learning, and finding her way. I see you standing in a place where purpose and passion have aligned. You are confident, but not because life has been easy; instead, because you’ve grown through every challenge. You’ve embraced complexity, finding the balance between storytelling, journalism, and coding – turning them into tools for change, just as I dream of now.

Dear Faith, I imagine you as a voice of empathy, using your stories to shed light on the lives of others. You’ve learned to listen deeply and speak with conviction. Your words don’t just describe the world; they change it. They bring people together, make them reflect, and inspire them to act. There's no excuse for not trying. Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it, and I want you to work on it. You are allowed to dream big, to chase after what sets your soul on fire. Don’t let anyone dim your light or convince you that your voice doesn’t matter. Speak up, stand tall, and be unafraid to take up space in a world that sometimes wants to shrink you. You will not necessarily succeed in everything the first time you try, and that's okay. You succeed because you understand that you can't let failures define you. Let failures show you what to do differently the next time. Failures make you a stronger, better person.

Dear Faith, sometimes life will hit you in the head with a brick; don't lose faith. You have to trust that the dots will connect somehow in the future because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference. I know you’ve been through times of doubt, but you never let them hold you back. You’ve kept moving, even when it seemed like progress was slow. You’ve stayed committed to your vision, knowing that every step leads you closer to it, no matter how small. The woman you'll become will carry today's lessons with her, but she will also grow beyond them. She will laugh, she will cry, she will fail, and she will rise again. And in every step of her journey, she will discover new layers of herself, filled with wisdom, grace, and courage.

Dear Faith, even when you're struggling or discouraged and feel like others have given up on you, don't give up on yourself. Don't be that person who quits when things get tough, but keep going and try harder. Do nothing less than the best. Put your best efforts into everything you do. Never lose those people who help you stay on track to achieve your goals, people who believe in your mission, and people who pray for you. Never lose those people, never!

Dear Faith, I hope that someday you'll realize how lucky you are that you don't realize it. How blessed you are that you don't even consider yourself lucky. And when that time comes, I hope you learn never to expect ease in life. I know you have this amazing fantasy about life that should go according to your plan, and if that doesn't happen, you give up. Life is a test and trial, and you shouldn't expect ease from a trial. Trials make us stronger and a better person.

Dear Faith, I want you to fight your fears and accept yourself the way you are – the sooner, the better. You might think your life is unfair, but think again! When you think that way, you are being unfair to yourself. Everything gets better and better as the years roll down. Don't let yourself down. Don't break the heart of little you by not becoming the better person you wanted to be as a child – failing her and watching all her dreams fall apart.

Dear Faith, your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown you. The world will challenge you. There will be moments when you doubt your strength, question your purpose, or feel lost in the noise. But remember this: your worth is not defined by what others think or expect of you. It is found in your kindness, resilience, and willingness to keep moving forward, even when the path seems uncertain. There will be haters, there will be naysayers, there will be disbelievers, and then you will prove them wrong. Never giving up is the way to live always.

So, keep pushing forward, future girl. There’s so much waiting for you. The world needs your brilliance, your heart, and your spirit. And even when things get tough, know that the woman you're becoming will be strong enough to handle it all. Today, I’m working to become you. I’m learning to be patient with myself and understand that growth takes time. I’m discovering how to combine my skills and passions in ways that serve others. I’m building the foundation for the change I know I can make.

I look forward to meeting you – not as a distant dream, but as the reality of who I am becoming.

I love you.

STORY AWARDS

This story was published as part of World Pulse's Story Awards program. We believe every woman has a story to share, and that the world will be a better place when women are heard. Share your story with us, and you could receive added visibility or even be our next Featured Storyteller! Learn more.