Meet student with humility of a saint

Cynthia Mbithe, the reigning Miss Angela at St Angela High School in Kitui County.

By KWAMBOKA OYARO

Kitui, Kenya: St Angela High School in Kitui County has a tradition that bestows the greatest honour on the best-behaved girl in the school every year.

Known as Miss Angela, the title holder must display character that is very close to the saint the school is named after. St Angela was an Italian nun who died in 1540 but her dedication to the service of the poor has lived on.

So on St Angela’s day, which is celebrated on January 27 every year, the school community democratically chooses a Form Four girl to be the flame of the saint for that year. Students from Form Two to Four (Form Ones report to school much later) vote, through secret ballot, for the girl they feel best suits the role.

Once chosen, the girl’s role includes diplomacy; being the bridge between the administration and the students.

DISARMING SMILE

Being ‘Saint’ of the year comes with responsibilities. The girl, who is very special to the school community, is expected to influence others to be good people and has authority to speak out on any issue.

This year’s ‘saint’ is Cynthia Mbithe, a girl with a disarming smile who carries herself with great respect and the humility of a saint.

“When I was voted as Miss Angela, I was so humbled that I cried. It is not easy to achieve this position; it means the other students trust me. It is the most enviable role for anyone. You must be a role model and mediate between the students and administration. The students trust you enough to voice their concerns to you knowing that you will carry that burden on their behalf and square the issues out with the administration without antagonising either party,” says Mbithe.

And getting to the pedestal did not just happen by chance. Although she is generally quiet, Mbithe says, she had a king-sized ego that was crushing her.

“I was in Form Two and my mum was a teacher here (the mother was later promoted to be a deputy principal in a different school). I felt very special; very proud. I thought everyone adored me. Then the unthinkable happened and I was catapulted to reality.”

She was detained in school in what came to be later termed ‘academic retreat’ for failing exams. She was ashamed and her pride came tumbling down. ‘Detention’ meant remaining behind in school while other students went home for holidays. Students without a strong personality find this the most humiliating period and it could crush them forever. But to those with a positive outlook, this retreat, which includes reflection of one’s life, dreams and desires, turns their lives around. For Miss Angela, this worked for her good. It turned her life around.

“It was my conversion. When school resumed for second term, I immediately joined Christian Union to strengthen my values. I wanted to squash my pride, which I felt had pushed me to let my parents down and everyone else with my poor performance. It wasn’t easy, but I can confidently say I have achieved a lot compared to that time when I swam in the sea of pride.”

Luckily, many of her colleagues never knew this side of Mbithe. But they have not been disappointed.

PEER EDUCATOR

Mbithe doubles up as a peer educator, helping girls who confide in her to deal with their problems head on. In one of her latest successes, she advised a girl whose father had stopped paying her school fees to insist on a one-on-one chat with the father. She did this and the father cleared the school fees instantly!

Being Miss Angela gives Mbithe a lot of authority. She walks to the principal’s office any time there is an issue and sorts it out. The principal, Lena Ngesa, is supportive.

“There is nothing I have brought before her that has not been handled to its conclusion. For this support, I am encouraged to do more; to make a difference in the students’ lives,” says Mbithe.

Her greatest role, she says, is to put a smile on the faces of everyone she meets. Indeed her good cheer is like an oasis in this dry Kitui region.