Rewriting Her Future – Akanyo Golda John
Akanyo Golda John is a Senior Six (second year) student at the Leadership Academy of South Sudan (LASS). Her journey has not been one of easy victories but of strength, resilience, and the will to rise despite challenges.
Growing up with a single mother, she learned early on that survival often came before education. School fees were a constant struggle, and she still recalls the pain and humiliation of being sent home, knowing her classmates were learning while she had to find odd jobs just to contribute to her fees. Even basic necessities like sanitary products were difficult to obtain, forcing her to miss classes and fall behind.
“There were days when I felt like my dreams were slipping away,” she remembers. “Becoming a lawyer felt like an impossible dream—something meant for people who didn’t have to fight just to stay in school.”
But everything changed when she joined LASS. The school has become more than just a place of learning—it is a home, a safe space, and a community that believes in her. The mentors and teachers have created an environment where she is not just another struggling student but a young woman with potential, with a future worth fighting for.
One of the most transformative experiences for her has been joining the Writers and Voice of LASS Club. As the club’s researcher and cartoonist, she found a platform to amplify student voices, uncover important stories, and share perspectives beyond the school walls. This role has sharpened her research and writing skills, but more importantly, it has given her the confidence to use her voice and stand up for what matters.
Reading their news during morning devotions was another defining moment for her. Standing before her peers, she wasn’t just reading words—she was speaking with conviction, learning to articulate her thoughts, and developing the skills that one day she will take into the courtroom.
“LASS is different,” she says with certainty. “Here, students and staff treat you like you matter. They don’t just teach us; they uplift us, support us, and remind us that our dreams are valid.”
“For the first time in my life, I believe that I can become a lawyer. The barriers that once seemed impossible to overcome now feel like stepping stones toward something greater. LASS has given me the tools, the encouragement, and the belief in myself that I never had before.”
Her story is still being written, but now, for the first time, she holds the pen in her own hands. And with every word she writes, she is shaping the future she once thought was out of reach.
