No shame kwa hustle

The pressure to “make it” is heavier than ever. This episode explores how money, family expectations, and hustle culture shape identity, relationships, and mental health and what it means to find hope when the journey feels slow.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:02

This episode contains sensitive content that may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

SPEAKER_11 0:27

Previously, on off script, love language is something that you missed growing up. One of the issues I feel like most young relationships have is they don't have open communication.

SPEAKER_04 0:49

Coming up on this episode, McKenna asked the students at the University of Nairobi what we are all really chasing. What does making it actually mean to you? We then tap and revisit raw moments from MTV Sugar Mashariki and Gen Free, where fiction hits close to home. Later, Mushina sits down with Roy and Bruce. One who shows us how you survive, and one who dares to dream out loud. Let's get started.

SPEAKER_11 1:23

This is Mushina Malomba.

SPEAKER_05 1:25

And Makenakahuha. Welcome to All Screen. Welcome to Papay.

SPEAKER_11 1:35

The University of Nairobi. The University of Nairobi. And today we were talking about hustle and hope. Manze, Manzei. You met a few students earlier.

SPEAKER_05 1:44

Yes, yes, yes, you know. Hustle culture is number one. Everyone is chasing the bag. But the bug is chasing few. So nika patana was saying, you know, most of the people that are here are obviously in uni. Yes. So I wanted to know what success looks like in their eyes, in their opinion. What making it looks like in their opinion, you know, what they need to get there. And I had some interesting answers, very interesting. Most people told me they need a lot of help. Um now when they're still in school and even when they leave. But there's a unique girl who told me, I, I, I, me, was a zongo lipa school fees. I've got this. And then the unique tech networks.

SPEAKER_11 2:36

I love that. I love that I met uh two students. Modiamba, we were talking about just how uh uh how how long, how far I may come through. Now he has gotten to school, I may put uh a scholarship, full scholarship. I may talk and balanceana, you know, so that just that hope for a better future. And then someone gave a hassle. And a hassle and a funny student and a pickama cuckoo by a hassle. And a hassle and a fine student and pickama cuckoo. And I was here to chicken fry way, my friend. And a hassle lookumara, and afanya laundry, there's so much that he's doing.

SPEAKER_05 3:10

And I think um uh your temperacampers is actually a really good time to try things. Oh, yeah, for sure. You have nothing to lose. To lose. Like there's nothing, there's nothing you can do, there's nothing you have to lose, and you have so much time on your hands and energy to try very many new things.

SPEAKER_11 3:29

So I think it's a good time to do this, but also there's this pressure that to na je kia, especially as young people, that ah, me have seen these guys too. Alikua akombele to campus, so you like feel pressure to also do that. Yeah, but kill mutual own time.

SPEAKER_05 3:46

And that is because there's a new crop of people who are in their early 20s, yeah. A new crop of people who are 21, 22, just before 24, up or 25. And God knows what they are doing because uh forex. That's what God knows what they are doing. So yeah, forex or a pesa. So but they have money, yeah, and they have money to flirt in clubs, with cars, go on road trips, and afford a certain lifestyle that many of their peers cannot afford. So I think when their peers look at them, yeah, they try to compare themselves and feel like if uuu ako e jungu and they are able to do this, and you see the thing that teachers used to tell us, Ukua primary you are being taught by the same teacher. Are you not sat in the same classroom? Are you not eating the same food in the same school? Why is this one performing uh better than you? Not keeping in mind that we have different abilities and different strengths. So we atashika as much as um all other aspects are constant, the things that are in us are not constant. So I think that's the thing, the pressure that you are given when you are young, even with our parents. Yeah. No, no, no, brother, Nafanyvi, why can't you do the same? Your brother is number one. Why are you na kujae?

SPEAKER_11 5:07

You're always feeling like you are late. Yes, you're you're like, hey, I feel I need to do more. I need to do better.

SPEAKER_05 5:12

I don't know if you went to school with someone who had like, if you're in the same class with someone who had a sibling who was older than them. Yeah. And I I I had a boy, I went to school with a boy who had a sibling, or had a brother who was older than him. And let me tell you, after all the time he would be told, you know, Givendu used to get an A. You know, Givendu used to do this, you know, Givendo used to be a captain. And let me tell you, I was tired of hearing it. I can only imagine what he was experiencing.

SPEAKER_11 5:41

Fast time apart a 9% month. This one will not be anything. Wakambia nyangu shikapa sign. Utu na atatu atatuangushia grade, midgrade. Lakini wata sign to aani, who say na kianguka this is on you. It's on you. And you know, I usually felt like I okay, this pressure, Les Money Pass Les Money quest something. I'll 346 where the chinjuwa kuku. You didn't. And a pattern apart at 290, 280. Liliqua index 46. Out of 46. Walikwa sema, bottom ten, I atunasa number 40. Before say me, Mesha Mka. Because I know it's always gonna be me. So there's always this pressure, especially from school. You have to be like someone else.

SPEAKER_05 6:35

And we are all decision. And and and we carry it outside such that the pressure that was put on us, now we come outside here and we put it on ourselves. Oh, yeah. We compare ourselves, we're like, I so and so is the same age as me, to Lima Lisa Shul at the same time. We are in the same uni, or we did the same course, but they're able to do this, and I wasn't able to do this. And you know, the people who build faster and the people who just build stronger.

SPEAKER_11 6:57

I want to know how do we build a future?

SPEAKER_05 7:02

For me, I think what I would do because honestly, when I build, I try to build when I'm like this. Indonesian.

SPEAKER_11 7:12

Yeah, that's you.

SPEAKER_05 7:13

Evil, but I'm protecting, but not so that I'm not copied, but so that I'm not able to pick and see Mushina Nadu. At the end of the day, me be nadamu man.

SPEAKER_11 7:22

I'm prone to feel jealous. Of course.

SPEAKER_05 7:25

Or I just want more than what I have.

SPEAKER_11 7:27

You know how do you build a future ille pressure and anxiety?

SPEAKER_04 7:34

Everyone's got a take. Let's see what the people have to say. Hi, Robinson.

SPEAKER_13 7:40

I'm fine, thank you.

SPEAKER_05 7:41

So I have a question for you. In your opinion, what do you think making it is, in your opinion?

SPEAKER_13 7:47

To me, to make it is just to be able to achieve your lifetime goals.

SPEAKER_05 7:52

Okay, so also do you think you need support to make it, or do you think you're able to do it on your own?

SPEAKER_13 7:59

I don't think anybody can make it on their own. Oh, yeah. Uh oh, you always need support, one or two from friends, family.

SPEAKER_05 8:05

What kind of support do you think you need to make it?

SPEAKER_13 8:07

Um, I think networking. Yeah, for me. Yeah, I think networking is very good in terms of support. Talking about financial connections, jobs, yeah, any type of connections. Networking is always there for you.

SPEAKER_12 8:20

Uh make it ni like as a man, see, like you should be able to hold down your family. It's just that simple.

SPEAKER_05 8:27

My question again is do you think you as a man you need help to make it?

SPEAKER_12 8:31

Feelings ni valid, like you mean I obviously need help. Uh, but from my folks, I trust my brothers, they always got me.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

That's a broad question, but generally, how I think or how I feel if I have made it is achieving all your dreams, whether it be being a homemaker, being a mom, being a wife, or achieving success career-wise, going for your goals and achieving them.

SPEAKER_05 9:01

Okay, so do you think you need any help from anyone in society to make it, or do you think it's possible for you to do it on your own?

SPEAKER_02 9:10

I'd say as someone who generally does not like asking for help, you need the help. No man is an island. So for you to make it, you obviously need people. Because as young as I am, I don't think there are dreams that you can achieve alone. In many aspects, sorry. Um, financial, emotional, mental, spiritual. I'm a Christian, so yeah, spiritual.

SPEAKER_04 9:37

Sour. That's the vibe qua ground. Now, check this out. Here's a moment from John Johnny Dante.

SPEAKER_01 9:48

See what I do is grandma hustler. Trust me. Mini Hustler.

SPEAKER_04 10:06

So, let's get back into it. Heard anything on this episode that you want to talk about in a safe, private, and judgment-free space? Chat naosemanami chatbot on WhatsApp number ni 0758-919709. He, ni one-on-one, take a listen.

SPEAKER_10 10:37

Yeah, I'm a hustler. Uh, I do a lot of hustles and as long as it brings money.

SPEAKER_11 10:44

I'm curious to know the hustles that you do right now in a university. Nikama Gani.

SPEAKER_10 10:47

So, university, uh, okay, yeah, obviously we have the uh you said the campus. The campus, that is obvious during people's assignments. Oh, exams. That's within the campus setting. That you okay. I started small businesses. Okay. So I was vending it to I buy it from uh market. Then they come buy it. So it has helped me. Apart from that, I'm a suit. So I have plugs, Bull of Be Spokes, I've done brand something, content something.

SPEAKER_11 11:22

Okay, uh, I love that. When you appear, as you've said, when you're in school, you can't do it. Sometimes do you feel ashamed that I mean then chomia wa to cuckoo? Do you feel ashamed of doing them or you don't care? As long as me, you know you're getting money, you don't care as much.

SPEAKER_10 11:38

I don't feel ashamed because uh at the end of the day, I'm gonna just breathe and say today was a hectic day, but tomorrow I'm gonna be better. I don't feel ashamed. In fact, I feel proud of myself because I'm like, I've made it today and I'll still make it tomorrow. Exactly. I pay my rent, I pay my bills, and I even pay my fees. So I'm like, wow. Even if you come to me with maybe a bank account of 500,000, I'm like, that's yours.

SPEAKER_11 11:59

Yes, Mansei. I love that. And I wish you nothing but the best, Mansei.

SPEAKER_09 12:03

When you get to now finish, what I want to do is I want to measure more on international laws and then, if possible, join Harvard for law, the master's in law, and then maybe come back in camp. You have three models in life. What are those? So, right now, what I'm doing is I'm committing to these three things. The first one being um my character. Okay. I am aware that I'm not perfect, but I want to grow in terms of my character. How old are you? You sound like someone who is a 40-year-old mature man. That's amazing. So character. Secondly, excellence. Lastly, it's servant leadership. Oh, okay. I think we are called to be to do more in life, live alone just living. Yeah. In as much as we are taking from the world, yeah, there's a part of us that should give back. Oh wow. Oh, wow. Actually, I have a crazy plan in with Kenya. I would one day want to be maybe president.

SPEAKER_11 13:06

Hey my guy. There's you know what I've got it from from this story? Yeah. You have so much hope. And I love that. You know, especially as young people, you need to always be hopeful for the better future. Yeah. Because as much as whatever is happening, whether you're I I haven't come from a rich family, yeah, and I've had my struggles also, and I relate to that a lot.

SPEAKER_04 13:27

This is the off script podcast. Hiya, back to the convo.

SPEAKER_00 13:33

Mia po kwa kume kit inazasema. Kwanza first, accept yourself, then ye uko inje uko kamaku na tuame make it na ebado. May indu metoka. Shulea mwemaliza kosiyako. Kwanza accept yourself, ujue ukochini, usi compete, uwa ka doon youa goalsama dream. Kama me shaji kubali, utapatana network zenye, zita kuenkara jukoyo industry nyye, maybe uko, napia kandewazaziya ma family, kunakwanga nao pressure, maybe ume ume kama mimina sama chanishema experience, niko kuwa community field, na kunata menyye n likuachini, mbaka family nona nyo kuwa chini we easy vituajibu kufanya asiwa kunona, sena kwanitaftiwa shugulingwa mista ki zozemana taftia. Wachami fanyekwenya minafa, na liku jaiwonika jikubali, no baka waka wakafkamalu ako naumtua ataikuambiwa. Nasai nime ku exampwa community venya shugulina fanyamzuri.

SPEAKER_08 14:26

Many thanks, fortunate here. I would like to guide young people not to succumb into the pressure just to live their passions. They should not leave the passions of their parents, passions of their peers. As somebody like me, I've been a passionate researcher for the last 10 years. I began working as a researcher while I was very young. So let's create as more networks as we can. And again, I've realized that our generation doesn't like reading books. Manze, okay, in anything you do, you need to read books. And you also need to pursue the standard of excellence to an extent that if they ignore you, they should not ignore your service. Remember, if you cannot manage yourself, you are disqualified from managing others.

SPEAKER_06 15:15

Uh, for me, what I'll touch through is about which in the expectations is awatu. Mimi have done that for long until time nili ka peango. Nanika mwanikwepe kyang. Your time ne reflect so many things. Nikona Nilikona live a life. From there, nil kujana mantra and how faithful am I to myself?

SPEAKER_05 15:38

Guys, come on just care. He said he has a mantra that he lives by. And anashinangamejuliza, how faithful am I to myself? And I think that's a good thing to go with. Yeah, yeah, to end with and just go home with. Anytime una feeling, you're not being truthful to yourself. I'm una feeling, I'm gonna make a decision. No question. If this decision betrays who you are, ask yourself how faithful am I to myself?

SPEAKER_11 16:07

Thank you so much too for watching this episode.

SPEAKER_05 16:10

Thank you so much, Nairobi Z. Universe of Nairobi. You've been such a good spot. This has been the Offscript.

SPEAKER_04 16:25

Offscript is brought to you by Sugar Global. Heard anything on this episode that you want to talk about in a safe, private, and judgment-free space? Chat naosema Nami chatbot on WhatsApp. Number Ni 0758-919709.