Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Those that are not familiar; the names above are for Liberias President. She is the first female African president. Ellen, is one African woman Ive come to really like. She is the true symbol of determination. Just a brief story about her: Im currently reading her book titled This child will be great, in which she says she got married at the age of 17 immediately after completing her high school. Though ambitious and wanting to pursue further studies, she decided to get married to the man she loved whole heartedly. Immediately after their marriage, she bore four sons in just a few years. She also recalls that she had her 1st two sons in one year: they are not twins. Mr Sirleaf her husband, was a very protective man which most of us women think is an anticipated quality in our men. She had seen this quality even before they got married but being young, in love and naïve as she recalls made her overlook the jealousy this man had. He never wanted her to talk to any man apart from him, lol, and if she did or dared to interject him then she was in it for tuff discipline. She was at some point nearly shot by her husband in their house. She thanks God her 1st son threatened to spray his dads eyes with target (Mortein target... Kills insects. Lol) and thats how he refrained from pulling the trigger. Their child was very young then by the way. When the husband decided to go to America to pursue his Masters degree, she also fought for a scholarship so that she could go and do her undergraduate degree. She says, it was not easy knowing that she would have to leave behind her four young sons. Nevertheless, when the scholarship was granted she had to leave for America with the husband. They still stayed as husband and wife even in America and he still continued his abusive nature. Ellens best friend would occasionally tell her how she thought Mr Sirleaf was being abusive but she still continued loving him and playing wifey all the way. She managed to pass all her courses with As and Bs and graduated with a degree in Economics. She actually finished her program a year after the husband had returned to Africa. They both started working for the ministry of agriculture in liberia. She became more determined than ever before after having experienced a life of being housewife of an abusive husband. Her hardwork saw her get promoted at work, and she recalls that the more she climbed her coporate ladder the more jealous Mr Sirleaf became. Anyway, the story is too long: they divorced later on and he took all the kids. She remained with nothing literally. However, one of her mid-sons refused to stay with the dad. He cried almost everyday for his mommy until finally one day his father took him to Ellen. That is the only son she has been able to nurture all the way through. Shes worked for the world bank before, several other banks and shes been minister of finance of Liberia before. Shes come a long way and she thinks her husband somehow made her a stronger and courageous woman. Its a pity Mr Sirleaf died long before she became president, she actually even attended his funeral. She says it was not easy coping with the fact that she had divorced her husband. She usually worried about what other people thought of her: did they think that she was promiscuous or rather she had just failed to keep a home. That hurt her most of the time but she thanks her mother who was a very prayerful and encouraging woman. Since then, she has never been married before and still uses her husbands name. She trully loved him. Sometimes, bad things happen to strengthen us. Im proud of this woman really. Its not easy giving up your life to someone who doesnt appreciate that fact. Kindly take time to read her book: THIS CHILD WILL BE GREAT by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 17:20:21 +0000