The Boy Who Loved Coding… But Landed Somewhere Else

Manzi did not choose his dream. His dream chose him quietly, unknowingly. 

As a young boy in Senior 3 and 4, he would watch his father work in IT. There was no formal explanation, no career session, no roadmap. Just observation. Curiosity. Exposure. 

Somewhere in that silence, a decision was made. 

“I want to become a computer science engineer.” 

No one told him the difference between IT and Computer Science. No one explained pathways. No one asked him why. 

But he felt something real. 

A Decision Without Direction 

When the time came, his father advised him to take Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. 

Manzi resisted. 

Not out of rebellion but clarity. 

“I will end up wasting your money. I want to study IT.” 

His father agreed. 

What influenced Manzi? 

  • Watching his father

  • Listening to teachers talk about IT careers 

  • His growing love for coding 

What was missing? 

  • Structured career guidance 

  • Clear differentiation between IT vs Computer Science 

  • Exposure to real academic pathways 

He Did Everything “Right”… Or So It Seemed 

In Senior 6, he chose: 

  • Mathematics 

  • Physics 

  • Computer Science 

A combination that should lead to Computer Science. 

He had the intent. He had the subjects. He had the passion. 

But he didn’t have clarity. 

The Shock at University 

When he entered university, he enrolled in Business and IT. 

That’s when reality hit. 

  • IT was not coding 

  • IT was not software development 

  • IT was mostly hardware, networking, and systems 

  • Business dominated the curriculum 

“This is not what I imagined.” 

His dream was not wrong. But his pathway was. 

A Heart Still Searching 

Even today, Manzi says: 

“I love coding. I still want to learn it. I am still trying to find a way.” 

But he also says something heavier: 

“I feel like I am not in the right field.” 

And then comes acceptance—not out of choice, but limitation: 

“If I don’t get another chance, I will just do IT hardware. I will try to like it.” 

Two Versions of the Same Future 

When asked to imagine his future, Manzi saw two versions of himself: 

  • One building software, solving problems, writing code 

  • Another fixing systems, working in hardware 

“I will not be 100% happy… but I will manage.” 

That one sentence defines the cost of poor career guidance. 

This Is Not Just Manzi’s Story 

This is the story of thousands of students across Africa. 

Students who: 

  • Choose based on exposure, not understanding 

  • Confuse careers with labels 

  • Follow passion… but without direction 

  • Discover the truth only after it’s too late 

The Real Problem 

The issue is not lack of ambition. 

The issue is: 

  • Lack of career clarity 

  • Lack of structured guidance systems 

  • Lack of early intervention 

Manzi did not fail the system. 

The system failed Manzi. 

Why This Matters 

A student who says: 

“I will adjust” 

is not a success story. 

It is a compromised dream. 

What Needs to Change 

We don’t just need more opportunities. 

We need: 

  • Early career awareness 

  • Clear academic-to-career mapping 

  • Guidance for parents, teachers, and students 

  • Platforms that translate interest → subjects → degree → career reality 

Because One Conversation Could Have Changed Everything 

If someone had told Manzi: 

  • What Computer Science really is 

  • What subjects and degrees lead to it 

  • The difference between IT and Software Engineering 

His story would be different. 

And That Is Exactly Why Maarifaa Exists 

To ensure no student says: 

“I am not in the right field… but I will manage.” 

At Maarifaa, we are building a structured pathway where interest meets clarity, and choices lead to the right careers. 

If you are: 

  • A student feeling unsure 

  • A parent wanting to guide better 

  • A school or partner shaping young futures 

Connect with Maarifaa and bring real career clarity to every student.