WELCOME TO THE ALUMNI ANTHOLOGY
“Every story holds a legacy, every poem echoes a voice.”
THE ALUMNI ANTHOLOGY OF ST. JOHN GIRLS' SECONDARY SCHOOL
Welcome to the Alumni Anthology, a dedicated space where the creative spirits of our past students continue to thrive. Here, we celebrate the timeless tales and poignant poems left behind by those who once walked these halls.
These literary works are not just words on a page—they are pieces of our shared history, reflecting the imagination, dreams, and voices of our alumni. Each story and poem is a testament to the enduring impact they have made on our school community and beyond.
We invite you to explore, reflect, and be inspired by the vibrant legacy of creativity that continues to shape our identity. Whether you’re a current student, an alumnus, or a visitor, may these writings connect you to the heart and soul of our school’s rich literary tradition.
MSCE CLASS OF 2024
STORIES & POEMS COLLECTIONS
THE PERSERVERANCE
“By Naomi Difuleya”
It was in April, 2006, when Ruth lost her mother in a car accident. Ruth was only two when her mother breathed her last breath and died. Her father took part in taking care of her until she reached form one at the age of fifteen. Then the father decided to marry someone who could easily take a good care of his daughter. Lucky enough, he married a woman with two daughters who were similar in age with Ruth. Ruth lived happily with the two sisters, the stepmother and her father.
One day, the father received a phone call from his working place which was informing him to go back to work the next month. The father explained to Ruth the message he received before explaining to his wife and her two daughters. Ruth asked his father, “for how long are you going to stay there?” The father responded, “for six months my dear.” The she started crying because she did not know the real characters of the step mother. Her father gave her words of encouragement and told her that she should always respect her step mother and be kind to them. He also said goodbye to his wife and the other children, then he left for his job.
After one fortnight, when the father departed, the step mother started illtreating Ruth. She treated her as a house maid in her own father’s house. Though the harsh treatment from the step mother and her sisters, she showed respect and some kindness to them. She even worked hard at school and passed her Junior Certificate of Education Examinations with good grades. This gave her an ambition of being a doctor in future. She started working hard to achieve her goal.
Three months later, she received a shocking news from his father’s companion who said, “I am afraid, your father suffered a lot from pneumonia last month and he has passed away last night.” It was very hard for Ruth to believe and accept his father’s death. She cried bitterly as if there was no tomorrow. The step mother was also sad upon hearing the news because she lost her husband and the blame was on Ruth that she bewitched her husband. This made Ruth realize how hard life can be at times.
The step mother never gave Ruth a chance to rest in her house. She did all chores at home, but the good thing is, she never gave up on studies because of her ambition of being a doctor in future. She worked all day long and she sunk her mind in books during the night when everyone was asleep in order get better understanding of whatever she learnt in class.
Ruth reached in form 4 and she was expecting to have her Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations in this class. All students in her class were required to pay examination fees which was a bit high. Ruth thought of requesting her step mother to pay for her examination fees. When she requested, the mother was deaf to her request for help. This made Ruth desperate after failing to access some examination fees from the mother. Ruth encouraged herself to work hard as she can leave the rest in hands of the Almighty God.
One day at school, the headteacher called her at his office. He asked, “why is it taking long for your parents to pay your examination fees?” she had a chance of explaining whatsoever her mother did upon hearing the news for examinations fees. The headteacher felt sorry for her and promised to assist her on paying the fee.
Ruth wrote her Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations. When the examination results were out, something interesting came. Against all the hardships, Ruth passed her examinations with 8 points and was selected to Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST). Different organizations supported Ruth in paying fees at her university until she finished in the fourth year her course in medicine. She graduated with a distinction. Lastly, she became a doctor.
I AM A BAD GIRL
“By Alinafe Harold”
My badness got me in real trouble
I took things too far
I was in a muddle
My jokes and tricks
Had caused someone pain
I felt pain inside
It was such a shame
I knew I had to change
I had to mix up things
Start all over again
I decided to be good
To follow all the rules
Just to change
From bad to good girl
Though I might slip sometimes
I was a bad girl
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE BEST
“By Daphne Nkhono”
There is no such thing as the best
We say to err is human
I’m sorry to ask, isn’t your best a human?
How can the best make a mistake
There’s no such thing as the best
We all see things differently
Believe me your best is somebody’s worst
Their presence alone brings a dark cloud somewhere
There’s no such thing as the best
Your best surely brings you bliss
I know you specially love the day you met your best
Sadly, you must know someone rules the day they met them
Your best brought you elation but left scars in another’s life
Would you still call them the best?
MEMORABLE CLASS OF 2024
“By Federica Chiwongola”
She walks in
Made all letter and words
Walk and run
All rhythm dances
Commanded loathed sign
To show a pretty smile
Dress learn conceit
In a raffia skirt
Made John
Our dear friend
Walk in
Talking of the Ganges
As if it were here
Described imagery
And made them dear
Talking of
Making our drama class
A vibrant atlas
Of experience
Lesson and people
I remember class of 2024
SHOCKING REVELATION
“By Michelle Kaponda”
I remember it was in June of 2007 when Father called for a family meeting. “I will be leaving next week,” he started. “I am going to Pakistan for work, but I will be back very soon.” Everyone kept quiet, waiting for what he would say next. I glanced over at my mother, who had tears in her eyes. I knew she was not in support of the idea, but for the betterment of our lives, she had no choice but to let him go.
“Daddy, Pakistan is so far away!” my little brother pronounced. My father walked up to him and carried him. “I know, but I really need the money for you and Lexi,” he said, his voice shaky. We were a family of four. I was the firstborn and 17 years old, while my little brother, Leonard, was 8. Our parents were Martha and Lionel.
On the day of departure, my mother and brother cried. I knew the family needed someone to be strong for them, so I didn’t cry. Father’s flight was scheduled for 9 am sharp. We arrived at Chileka International Airport at 8:30 am. I helped Mom unload Father’s luggage. We stood nearby the car, creating our last memories. I couldn’t believe he was really leaving for a different continent, far from home. My father and I had the strongest bond. He whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry, champ! I will be back, but I need you to be there for Mom. This is the time she needs you the most.” I felt like crying. “I will, Dad!” I responded.
The first two months after my father left weren’t really bad. He called every night and sent money for our wants and needs. He did everything as if he were still around. One evening, when we gathered in my mother’s room, waiting for his call, he did not call. Mom told us, “He might be working late, so he will probably call tomorrow.” We waited again the next day, but he never called. It continued for a week, then we just stopped waiting. It did not take long after he stopped calling for him to stop sending money. This left Mother very helpless because she did not have a well-paying job that could provide enough for us. She worked as a receptionist at Mwayiwathu Hospital. Mother worried greatly about me because I was in my first year of college.
A whole year passed without talking to our father. Mother had a lot of loans to pay for my fees, and Leonard started attending a government school. One weekend, Mother left at 10 pm, saying she was attending a close friend’s party. This habit continued for some weeks. She would leave late at night and return at 2 am or 3 am.
Our life changed a lot. Hatred towards my dad grew in me. He betrayed the whole family. Every time somebody mentioned my father, I was filled with frustration. I changed my surname; I started using my maternal surname. My mom had a white Corolla, but one day, I got home and found a black Hyundai parked in the driveway. When I got inside the house, I found a fat, light-skinned man with a long beard sitting comfortably on the couch.
“Welcome, dear!” Mom said cheerily. “Just in time to meet your new father.” My mind kept repeating the words over and over again, “new father?” “Has she gone crazy?” I thought. My jaw dropped, and my heart skipped a beat. “Come, my dear, don’t worry. I will take good care of you and your mother,” the man said with a broad smile. I thought it was a joke, but they were being dead serious.
At first, he was sweet with us. He made sure we had everything. One cold evening, he showed us the beast he truly was. He came home drunk with another woman. When Mom asked who the woman was, he beat her mercilessly. Leonard and I tried to defend her, and he did the same to us.
“Lexi, get a stool!” I heard him call a few minutes after he had beaten me for breaking a plastic cup. I did as he said because of fear. I went to the storeroom and got a small wooden stool. He was sitting on the veranda with my mother. As I got closer, I saw tears rolling down her cheeks. What has he done to her now? I thought.
“Give the stool to that man,” he pointed at someone behind me. I turned to hand the man the chair, but I froze in shock. The man was my father, my biological father. He was crying, something I had never seen him do. Was he here to apologize? Leonard was standing next to him, wiping his tears and telling him to stop crying. Mom was unstable on her chair. I did not know how to react; should I cry, hug, or slap him? I was filled with mixed emotions.
“I’m very sorry, my children. Forgive me!” he pleaded. This time, everyone was seated calmly, listening to whatever he had to say. “When I left, everything in Pakistan was okay. I worked very hard. Our bosses called everyone for a meeting. They took away our phones, any source of communication, and they stole our money from our bank accounts. We were forced to work on plantations. They even took away our IDs and passports. I really tried to reach out, but it was impossible.” He stopped to take some water, then continued. “We became slaves, but one day, my colleagues and I managed to escape. We traveled in cargo trucks and ships, but we made it back home.” I was left speechless. After all this time, my father comes home, and I can’t believe he went through so much suffering. I turned to my mom, who was still crying. With so much shock, my mother fell, breathing her last breath. My mother died in front of me, and there was nothing I could have done to save her.
A LONG JOURNEY
“By Happiness Mtambalika”
From the past four years until today
We now call this the fourth year
Life has been rotating in different directions
Interacting with people whom we never knew
But we still took this place as home
After a passage of time
We made friends
New life new friends
Life has not been easy all the times
As all days are not Sundays
But the courage of never giving up
Has made us survive all these years
That is why we are called survivors
This life has activated us
It has taught us to be punctual
In our daily activities
It has taught us to be fast like a cheetah
Not slow like a snail
Having a belief that education is a key to success
We have always tried our level best to make it
Although we could not be perfect at all times
But we have always pulled up our socks
For us not to die in the poverty of the unsuccessful
Now that we have come to the end Of the journey
All thanks to our teachers
For their great job
Thanks to the management
And our matrons
For making us feel this place as home
HOW HARD IT WAS
“By Jacqueline Matemba”
I have been lost
It has been difficult
But I have learned so much from it
I have learned that
People can hate you so deeply
And don’t even think about you
I have seen good people
But mean people as well
I have seen with my naked eyes
People rejecting me
And they used to say
We don’t know her
I have seen them
Choosing somebody else
Instead of me
But sooner or later
They will realise
That they lost the best
How hard it was
LITTLE ME
“By Dorcas Mwafumu”
As I yen and always end up smuggled
And life rolls smoothly like butter
Everything I wanted and wished for
Came on a silver plater
Little me though life was happily ever after
But now look at the smoldered me
Facing the reality of life
Spending my nights going down this road
Still, I cannot find which way to go
This carnage eating me up in a way
I have never imagined of
Reality why you so cruel?
Little me used to swim in the ocean of imagination
But now am drowning in nightmare every night
I slept with a lullaby but now I cry myself to sleep
Am all distorted
Though I have learnt that the battle of reality makes me who I am today And that I must be proud of the scars But little me is all I want
SCHOOL
“By Thokozani Kondowe”
But still comes to you
It calls no one
But everyone
Flocks to it
To eat the books
And swallow the knowledge
And burp up the
Flabbergastic words
To look respected
And not a savage
Everybody hates
Six cruel hours of our lives