Austin Muigai speaks on boarding school hardships that contributed to his success
By Steve Ireri, July 28, 2025Content creator Austin Muigai has revealed that he was among the many children whose parents chose to send them to boarding school at a very young age, an experience he says, despite its challenges, helped shape his character and sense of responsibility.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Oga Obinna on Monday, July 28, 2025, Muigai spoke candidly about the realities of boarding school life, emphasising how it forced students to grow up fast because they are left to manage difficulties on their own.
He explained that boarding school life is not ideal, as students must endure many hardships without the immediate support of family or guardians.
He said that if a student is bullied, they have to face it alone.
“I am from Nyeri town. Boarding school has the advantage of making you responsible because you are on your own. It is not ideal—there are many challenges. If you were bullied, you had to deal with it there. If you were insulted, you dealt with it there. If you cried, there was no one to comfort you,” Muigai said.
This harsh environment, he added, helps build resilience because no one is there to protect or shield you.
Muigai recalled the intense homesickness he felt when he first joined boarding school as a young boy.
He confessed that he had a hard time accepting the idea of leaving his friends, who were day scholars, to join a boarding school.
“I entered boarding school when I was still young. I did not believe I would leave my friends, who were day scholars, to go to boarding. In fact, I ran away from school because of homesickness,” he admitted.
He also spoke about the food, describing it as a difficult adjustment.
“They cooked cabbage that was not properly prepared. It was hard to adjust,” he said, noting that he missed the comfort of home-cooked meals.
Despite the early challenges, Muigai said he persevered.
He explained that after the initial tough period, students learn how to face reality and the world around them.
“On the first days, you get homesick, but eventually you learn how to face reality and the world,” he said.
Academic journey
Muigai also described his academic journey, revealing that he remained at the same high school throughout and performed above average.
He declined to disclose his exact grades, stating that people should be satisfied with his description of himself as an above-average learner.
“For high school, I never went to many schools. I was not the type to shift schools anyhow. I can’t say the grades I got, but I was above average,” he said.