This University Student Gives Back Money He Makes From Speaking
Aije Brian is a 4th-year medical student and is an inspiration to many; the envy of those below that would wish to walk the path he has trodden. An academic genius in every sense of the word. He was among the best students countrywide when he sat the national Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). Those that have gone through these education tests know how difficult it is to come out top in such academic undertakings. Therefore, to do it not just once but thrice is no mean feat.
As an academic legend, Aije gets motivational speaking ‘gigs’ on a weekly basis to go to schools and motivate, inspire and encourage students to work harder, believe in themselves and pursue academic excellence. His charges per speaking engagement range from UGX 150,000 to UGX 500,000, enough money to access a decent lifestyle for a university student. A good talk with Aije is enough to let you into his future plans. He plans to start up an academic consultancy that does motivational speaking among other things.
Each academic term, Aije dedicates 3 weekends to go back to his three former schools to talk to students and staff, build the capacity of the school student leadership and generally prepare the students to excel and perform better. For this, he charges nothing, choosing to give back the money to the schools. It is just an act of generosity by one of the most highly sought out academic geniuses of his time. Asked why he does it, he simply answers “I am doing it just to give back, I could still do it even when I had no money on me.”
Aije is driven by the pursuit of more success in his former schools. He believes that nothing beats the reputation of coming from a first-class and successful school with successful old students. “It just opens doors for you”, he recounts. For him, giving back is all that matters. He considers giving back as a way of showing appreciation of your past and clearing a path for a stubborn soul lost in wondering or awakening a latent lioness in a student that is still sleeping. The gratitude he receives from the students that have been motivated by him is what impels him to do more and more just to give back.