Ahurire Gilbert Dontalle, currently a senior six student at Naalya Secondary School, Lugazi campus, has navigated a challenging yet inspiring journey through his high school years. Previously attending Elite High School in Entebbe, Gilbert served as the president of the Interact Club, where he balanced his academic responsibilities with his leadership duties. In this interview, he shares his experiences and the hardships he faced in maintaining this delicate balance, offering valuable insights to fellow students striving for excellence in both their studies and extracurricular activities.
QUESTION: how did your beautiful love relationship with interact start?
ANSWER: It all started in second term last year, I didn’t manage to report early however upon arrival, I remember from the parking lots I was briefed that the selection committee (clubs’ committee) had appointed as the President of Interact Club.
QUESTION: From the parking lots?
ANSWER: Yap right from there, I mean I was so shocked and the moment just sparkles up until today. Crazy thing is that I knew close to about three things about the club.
QUESTION: and you never backed out despite having no clue of whats ahead?
ANSWER: I learnt something the hard way, quitters never achieve and achievers’ never quite. I am the person if given a task to do furniture work and I don’t know I would gladly use YouTube to source my knowledge and do my thing.
For those aspiring for club presidency, pay a deaf ear to critics. I may have had some setbacks, but not once did I consider giving up. I’ve cracked the three most important life hacks: Network, Skill, and Knowledge. The accompanying challenges are the preps for life.
Ahurire Gilbert Donatello
QUESTION: How do you mean?
ANSWER: For many outside there, they take all Interact clubs as an only fun oriented program, however the fact is different for the newly charted Interact clubs are a representation of Rotary clubs in the world who prioritize “SERVICE ABOVE SELF”
QUESTION: What was your first lesson in the bag?
ANSWER:The meaning of interact club as a whole actually stood for INTERNATIONAL ACTION. That’s where Inter-Act as a word originates from.
QUESTION: Take us through the triumphs you managed to register during your time?
ANSWER: From the word go while now equip with the knowledge of Interact, I launched a campaign in school to have branded dust bins all around school as my first and organize an impromptu charity reach out all in the shortest time possible.
QUESTION: How did project dust bin workout? (laughs)
ANSWER: Big success, with every 40-meter walk, you will notice a green branded dust bin.
QUESTION: …and the charity run…?
ANSWER:Big success, it still performs till now, we do this charity reach outs to St. Noah’s Ark Home of Disability.
QUESTION: How did you pull that off?
ANSWER: I would say that was the generosity within the Elite High School community eased my work. Towards every concluding term, we approached students to donate the extra scholastic materials they had till then and the happily did, others even contributed money.
QUESTION: lets talk the hardships now, how would you describe your journey?
ANSWER: For some reason, I thought I knew what leadership was, it was just a fraction.
QUESTION: English would refer to that as ambition, how much did you lose during your reign?
ANSWER: I registered wins most of the time, however I did bump a gigantic huddle. My inability to strike a balance between my grades and leadership caught up with me. This prompted a change of school spear headed by my parents.
QUESTION: How big of a blow was that to your guts?
ANSWER: A though one to swallow, yes, I mean I worked off my a$$ to get the club to where I wanted it and then, I suddenly have to change and leave everything behind.
QUESTION: Moses didn’t manage to make it to the promised land, though he was a remarkable hero…?
ANSWER: I mean I was dumbed, after a good anxious moment, started deciding for my new life.
QUESTION: Regardless of the change of school, your former school (Elite High School, Entebbe) still invited you to handover as the officially chartered President as it was, what was the feeling by then?
ANSWER: I remember mentioning the generosity at display at the school, I mean I felt good that I was paid my well-deserved respect of taking the club to the next chapter of its operations.
QUESTION: What would be your closing remarks?
ANSWER: For those aspiring for club presidency, pay a deaf ear to critics, I may have some few setbacks however not once becoming the President of Interact Club, for I have cracked the three most important life hacks i.e. Network, Skill and Knowledge. The accompanying challenges are the preps for life.
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