The Long Road to a ‘Yes’: A Lesson in Resilience and Second Chances

Earlier this year, I shared a glimpse into a journey that felt like a relentless uphill struggle. I was walking alongside a courageous woman who had recently transitioned from prison back into society. Together, we had submitted countless job applications, and for months, all we received in return was the cold silence of rejection or the blunt finality of a "no."

As a mentor and a friend, I will be honest: it was an emotionally exhausting season. There is a specific kind of fatigue that sets in when you watch the heavy layers of stigma and the emotional baggage of imprisonment stifle someone’s future. It felt as though every door was not just closed, but bolted shut, regardless of her talent or her will to change.

But the beauty of resilience is that it often finds its voice in the most ordinary moments.

About three weeks ago, I was in a car on the way to visit a member of our church. During the ride, I turned to a friend and asked a simple, hopeful question: "What would it take for someone to be employed where you work?" She shared an email address for an international school, and in that moment, the exhaustion lifted just enough to try one more time.

We went back to the drawing board. I worked with my mentee to give her CV a complete overhaul, ensuring her strengths were impossible to ignore. We crafted a bespoke cover letter and prepared a message that balanced professionalism with her unique spirit. We sent it off, not knowing if this would be yet another silence or the breakthrough we had been praying for.

The turnaround happened with a speed that took our breath away.
Last Thursday, she received a call for an interview. By Saturday morning, she was standing before the panel, and by 6:30 PM that same evening, the news arrived: she had secured the opportunity. She is now a member of staff at that international school in Nairobi.

Moving from the isolation of a prison cell to the halls of an international institution is no small feat. It is a powerful testament to the fact that second chances are not just possible—they are transformative. This experience served as a vivid reminder to me that even when the path ahead looks blurry and the world feels bleak, if you keep pushing, the tide will eventually turn.

Stigma is powerful, but human resilience—fuelled by consistent advocacy—is stronger. To anyone standing before a closed door today: do not stop knocking. The "Yes" you are waiting for may be just one conversation away.