A New Beginning

A short story set in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Kouamé is a twenty-year-old student from Bouaké. Last year, he failed his BAC examination for the second time. He was deeply disappointed, but he refused to give up. His mother, Mama Adjoua, always told him: "My son, failure is not the end. It is the beginning of a new lesson."

After the results, Kouamé decided to change his study habits completely. He woke up every morning at five o'clock, revised his lessons for two hours, and then went to school. He also joined a study group with four classmates: Aminata, Konan, Adèle, and Serge. Together, they studied English, Mathematics, and Science every Tuesday and Thursday evening.

One day, their English teacher, Miss Diabaté, announced that a national English competition would be held in Abidjan. She encouraged the group to participate. "This is a great opportunity," she said. "You have worked hard. I believe in you." Kouamé admitted that he was nervous, but Aminata reminded him that they had prepared well.

On the day of the competition, Kouamé presented a speech on the importance of education in Africa. The jury was impressed. When the results were announced, Kouamé had won the first prize. He called his mother immediately. She was so proud that she cried. That evening, Kouamé promised himself that he would never stop learning — because, as Mama Adjoua had always said, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.