DON’T CELEBRATE FOR LONG

Cliche as it may sound, Nothing lasts forever. The world is always in a state of continuous growth. Brand new ideas, solutions and innovations emerge literally every second hence the need to be uncomfortable with our talents and the desire to make them better. The movement has to always find us ready.

These same words don’t celebrate for long have kind of kept playing at the back of my mind since August 2018 during the opening ceremony of the CAMTech Hackathon; a MedTech hackathon hosted annually by Mbarara University. I was probably absent minded largely during the opening ceremony speeches, but i picked this. Simply because it rhymed with a brand new experience i had gone through.

Flash back to the CAMTech Hackathon of August 2017. This was my first time attending this annual event. I had to win, i had to be part of the team with the best idea emerging out of 59 teams that year. Surprisingly, my team came first. we took the grand cash prize. We were all over; news papers, television, we made it to reknown websites in the MedTech world. You could say that for that day, we were the most praised innovators i knew of. Atleast for that day. I remember my team went on a dinner that night to celebrate the great victory, we were excited, overjoyed, we had all the right to.

The biggest problem my team and I faced was celebrating for too long. we didn’t seek mentorship, we were too proud to partner with available people who could have helped us alot. Time went by, we missed out on grants, and 4 years later, i’m here to tell you that the team didn’t make it anywhere, and many people that hailed us that day have long forgotten about us. The only benefit i still carry is the fact that it appears on my CV. But not for long, soon i’ll take it off because its no longer a bragging point.

When these 4 words were mentioned by the last speaker before she called upon the guest of honor, i instantly reflected upon time a year’s time loss. And i knew that year had to be different. my team that year didnt come even among top 6 teams, but we reassembled after the hackathon and editted our concept. 4 months later, we won 2 big grants. This was my lesson, because this is an actual bragging point today. Photokabada (on twitter and facebook). You got to watch the space for what’s about to pop. one day, i’ll tell our story’s journey

when you reflect upon life, it’s the same in everything. The bell bottom trousers our mothers wore were later kicked out. we all like them skinny jeans now. fashion trends change, people discover better ways to make the same dish, the once smooth skin gets wrinkles at some point, buildings get very new appearances every time. Better cars, better partners too!

There is a constant need to grow and get better and be new, and rebrand. Because when new things show up, the old is kicked out. If your lecturer doesn’t get their masters and their PhD soon, you will become their boss if you keep pushing. It’s necessary.

Happy Growing . Big hugs