Many young people grow up believing that good grades and a university degree will automatically lead to a comfortable office job. For Scholastica, a Kenyatta University graduate, life unfolded very differently, forcing her to take a path she never imagined but one that has since reshaped her view of success and work.
Scholastica holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and had always pictured herself in a corporate environment after finishing school.
She performed well academically, scoring 409 marks in KCPE and a B plain in KCSE, achievements that gave her hope for a bright professional future.
Like many students, she believed her education would open doors and provide stability once she graduated.
However, after completing university, reality hit hard. She searched for formal employment but faced repeated disappointments. Interviews did not translate into job offers, and opportunities were limited. With bills to pay and no steady income, she had to find a way to survive rather than wait endlessly for an office job that might never come.
Even while still in university, Scholastica had already learned the value of hustling. She tried modelling and also worked at a cosmetics shop to support herself.
These small jobs helped her stay afloat, but her life took a painful turn in 2020 when her grandmother passed away. Her grandmother had raised her, and her death left Scholastica without emotional and financial support.
From that point, survival became a daily priority, and she had to balance her studies with earning a living.
After graduating, she made a bold decision to walk away from modelling and start selling vegetables. It was not an easy choice, especially for someone with a commerce degree and strong academic history.
She chose action over pride. She set up her mama mboga business and began selling vegetables to customers, learning the trade one day at a time.
What made her journey stand out was her choice to share her daily experiences on TikTok. She recorded herself at the stall, interacting with customers and talking openly about her life as a vegetable vendor. Her honesty attracted thousands of viewers who related to her struggles and admired her courage. The stall became both her workplace and her content space.
During an interview with Oga Obinna, Scholastica revealed that when she started, she earned about KSh 2,000 a day. As time went by, she became more consistent and expanded her stock to include items like tomatoes and onions. On good days, she now makes between KSh 5,000 and KSh 10,000, although she was clear that such amounts do not come every day.
Her story sparked wide discussion online. Some people joked about leaving office jobs to join biashara, while others praised her for choosing dignity and honesty over waiting for handouts. Many Kenyans saw her experience as a clear picture of the tough job market graduates face today.
More than the money, Scholastica’s journey has challenged old ideas about success. Her story shows that no job is small and that survival sometimes requires letting go of expectations and starting again in unexpected ways.
