Coming from an average background with the dream of becoming educated and the zest to transform your family with you having little or no financial support is challenging . Even in the face of endless struggles, accessing your inner power, aiming for the sky and working towards achieving your goals make you who you really are! Inspire Salone Series brings you an exceptional personality, Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah Esq., whose story of resilience and steadfastness is worth sharing.
The Initial Stage
Knowing what you want and going for it is the greatest achievement a person can give to himself. Augustine Sorie Sengbe- Marrah Esq. believed in himself and knew from the onset what his calling was; setting forth to pursue it amidst all odds.
Augustine’s love and passion to become a lawyer could be traced way back to his childhood days, when his primary school teacher was so moved by his determination. His assessment report included his dream to become a lawyer.
When the time was finally ripe, Augustine had the desire to be different! He wanted to become someone his parents would be proud of.
The Challenges
Every journey has its own challenges. Augustine was faced with so many hurdles, but giving up was not an option. His family wanted the very best for him. However, they could not support him because they were not financially strong enough to support his vision of becoming a lawyer.
Sad! The peasanty sum his parents earned as teachers could hardly take them through the month; adding the expenses of a law degree was just unbearable.
Being determined, focused and ready to learn without having adequate opportunities could be so disheartening. He hustled throughout his University days. Things were so hard for Augustine that he could not afford the basics necessary to go by, not to talk about taking care of his University expenses. He faced humiliation, frustration and was subjected to unhealthy conditions just to keep life going. Reading law in Sierra Leone is stressful in itself, even when you have the capacity to cater for it, just think about when you don’t.
Have you ever been in a situation when you were driven from a lecture room because you could not afford a textbook or when you were refused entrance to an examination hall because you could not pay your fees? Augustine went through all that and more, but he continued to push on.
Notwithstanding his determination, the unfortunate happened!! Augustine couldn’t solve his problem so he had to drop out of University for a year. But that didn’t deem his light; instead he became more determined than ever.
Resilience
He was so devastated, but he knew all hope was not lost. During the period he was out of University, he looked for ways to pay his fees. He tried all he could to raise funds but he couldn’t. One could have thought that was as far as Augustine’s career could go.
Let’s just say fate was with him. God sent a good Samaritan woman who assisted him in obtaining a government grant-in-aid to complete his law program.
After having had time to recuperate, Augustine came with vigor. He was ready to beat all odds. With excellent results and having topped the bar exams, he was exempted from paying fees.
Light shone!
Because of his fantastic relationship with his mama, he wanted to make her proud. The zeal to overcome poverty and the zest to fight against social injustice of any form became persistent.
He worked towards achieving just that!
Risen
It paid off! The dream was fulfilled. He became a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone. He was still not satisfied and had countless more to accomplish. He knew this was just the start of his greatness.
Believing in equality, he ensured to pursue that path. Human right advocacy is one aspect of his career. Augustine bagged a Masters in Human Rights Law and Democratization from the University of Pretoria; leading Center on Human Rights Education in Africa.
“I am moved by the plight and suffering of folks. I have such a passion for human rights to the extent that I know in my bones that I have a calling. It has very little financial reward but so much satisfaction, ”Augustine remarked.
He had potential which had to be let out. About a year ago, he became the Managing Partner of Marrah & Associates, a law firm that upholds the rule of law and serves as defender of truth, protecting and promoting the constitution while catering for its clients’ needs.
In establishing that firm, he had created a platform where young Sierra Leoneans could be given the opportunities to actualize their dreams through an internship program supervised by his Junior Partner, Ms. Mariam Koroma.
There is so much more to Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah than meets the eyes. The dreams of becoming a lawyer have been achieved.
His Message to Young Sierra Leoneans
“Forget the gold, diamond and all the precious minerals that we celebrate on television and radio stations. The best resource we have as a nation is the young people. We spend so much money protecting our precious resources, but very little on young people. No nation can develop without its young people being empowered. As older Sierra Leoneans, we owe a duty to ensure that we not only be good examples to the younger ones, but also to inspire them.” Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah
His energy in being different is contagious. What is contagious about you?
About Writer
Mariama Janet Deen is a 23-year-old Sierra Leonean Writer with over 2 years professional writing experience. She’s currently working with Nafisa Media Limited as a Writer. As a result of her work at the said entity, she has submitted content to organisations both locally and internationally. She is in love with storytelling.
Photo Credit: Moseray Koroma (Super Mos Photography): +23278145373/+23288914840
