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Natana’s Diary 💜🤭

@n.atana_

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A wholesome babe🇸🇸🇰🇪
📍chi🇺🇸

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As I was scrolling through my gallery I found these two masterpieces and I decided to post them during this time in October. I learned a lot from the elders, cousins, nephews and nieces and would want to thank each and every one of you. It has been a tumultuous journey I’m certain for all of you and I’ll keep praying for all of you. May God keep blessing all of you abundantly and keep all of you in good health.❤️

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Sometimes I look through my camera roll and stare for hours because of the flood of memories and emotions. Hanging out with the nephews and nieces and all my siblings and family is always a heartwarming experience. A return home perhaps? Then we could get to perhaps hand out with the lions again on the safaris. Miss all of you and may God keep blessing all of you abundantly.

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Favorite day ever, surrounded by so much love. Surrounded by my people.

Three years ago, I had the audacity to believe I could fit four years of becoming into three, pursuing multiple fields of study at a college I never imagined I’d get into. I remember being intimidated when people called Bates a “Little Ivy,” knowing I’d become only the second Malawian student in the College’s history.

Somehow, against every prediction - including my own on certain days - we did it.

A political scientist? An Africana scholar? Perhaps both.

B.A. in Political Science and Africana Studies, with concentrations in Law and Society, The African Continent, and Identities, Race, and Ethnicity.

Along the way, I was humbled to receive the Bates College Civic Leadership Award, the College’s highest honor for excellence in community engagement, and the SCBC Leadership Award for leadership and service to the Bates community. I also completed a thesis on reparations and African governance, and an independent study on Malawian boarding schools that my professor believed deserved a life beyond the classroom - we’re now working toward publication together.

The hardest three years of my life also became the years that taught me the most about justice, imagination, community, and what it means to remain hopeful anyway.

Here’s to betting on yourself before the evidence exists.

Two cords, one degree, and hopefully the first of many graduations.

Class of 2026. 🤍

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Birthday week officially done on Juneteenth. Thanks to all the birthday wishes and memories with amazing family and friends especially the ones we made in the beautiful city of Chicago. All the brothers finally graduated as well. Truly an end of a beginning. Unc status successfully collected ✅. I will miss all of you ❤️.

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The Diploma was conferred y’all. I think a lot about Robert Frost’s “Road Not Taken” when I look back at my college journey. @vanderbiltu shaped not just my mind, but my family’s future. Through every success and opportunity, breakthrough and challenge, I ended up finding the best environment to succeed here at Vanderbilt’s campus in Nashville. Grateful to be able to walk at this stage. Many thanks to my parents in South Sudan 🇸🇸 , professors, friends, family and God for guiding me through every step of the way. #vu4life

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Juba, South Sudan on a Sunday in the summer of 2023. I remember the Worldcup trophy was being displayed in the country which was such a huge moment. We got to not only attend the colorful and beautiful wedding introduction of our cousin Ezra Baya but also got the wonderful opportunity of attending a congregational service with our brothers and sisters in Munuki. My nephew was always a joy to have around and would join us on drives whenever he could. Violet also took her time as usual to address the Church. Fun times.

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Here are some more wonderful memories and shots from Juba, South Sudan, where we were advocating against early child marriages by doing workshops in high schools in 2023. We also took the time to implement a workshop led by Violet @n.atana_ on making sustainable and reusable menstrual products for the girls in those schools, where she also left them with numerous starter kits alongside ready made finished products she made herself. My wonderful brother Emmanuel was also there as a key implementing partner as we moved from different highschools around the city.

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Happy new year to all of you from me and my family @n.atana_ and @iamnyiboi_legtho all the way from South Dakota. Stay blessed everyone in this upcoming 2026.

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Making tradition 😍😍💞

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Des attitudes de baddies 😍💞..

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+ 1. This birthday, I decided to go back in time and appreciate one of my best friends and strongest support system. Thanks for being there @n.atana_ 💕.

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It’s always amazing reconnecting with family abroad. Thank you big sis @lonayuyada and family and @n.atana_ for making the past week feel like Nairobi and Juba here in the US. Special shoutout to the Pojulu community for organizing an amazing Pojulu conference here in Nashville ❤️

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