From Classroom to Content Creation: Tr. Cillah’s Journey to Educating and Entertaining Young Minds in Kenya

Priscilla Wanjiru Karanja popularly known as Tr. Cillah is a passionate educator and influential content creator in Kenya, who has earned a reputation for her creative teaching style and her dedication to her students’ needs. Born and raised in Kiambu, she developed her love for teaching at a very young age, getting inspiration from her favorite primary school teacher, Mr. Njoroge. She studied and achieved her training qualification from Kilimambogo Teachers Training College. Tr. Cillah has embraced various social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, creating engaging content to entertain and educate young minds, which has grown her following exponentially. This household name shares her story with us.

Is this career path one that you always dreamed of?

Yes indeed. Since I was younger, I have always desired to become a teacher. This is a result of my initial belief that teaching doesn't demand much and that it would allow me to have more time for relaxation and sleep. (Laughs). At least I now realize how mistaken I was. I don't regret my choice, though. My elementary school teachers were really nice to me, especially Mr. Njoroge. I didn't have the best grades in my class and I had difficulties, especially with the English subject. Mr. Njoroge greatly assisted me in improving my grades by encouraging me and mentoring me during his free time. Because of the profound effect it had on me, I hoped that in the future, I would do the same for other children.

What is the best thing about what you do and why?

Well, everything about teaching brings me a lot of joy and fulfillment. I love watching the whole process where a child learns new things and grows through every grade, changing and developing into a new and better person.

You interact with young kids every day. What are some of the things you wish parents knew about their kids?

Since I spend so much time with the children at school, I have noticed that most parents don't understand their child’s true personality. For example, a parent would complain about how their child keeps on being punished unfairly for picking on other kids yet they are not aware that their child has a mean streak of their own. This is possible because they are unable to fully discern every trait of their child just from interacting with them at home, where no other children are around. Consequently, parents ought to put their trust in us as educators to tell them about matters to which they might not be privy.

What is a challenge that you have experienced in your career in teaching?

I would say that dealing with parents has not been the easiest thing to do. Since every child has different needs, it can be difficult to meet every parent's request at a go. While some parents are aware of this, others are not. They would like their child to receive preferential treatment at the expense of their classmates and this usually leads to a bit of conflict. Another challenge would be that the teaching profession is not properly compensated. Many people expect a great deal from teachers, yet they're not willing to compensate them for the amount of labor they put out.

You're such a happy soul. What do you do when you're feeling down to cheer you up?

(Laughs) I’m actually quite emotional on both extremes. When I'm feeling low, I often turn to God in prayer. Other times I let out a good cry, releasing all the negative energy and this helps a lot. After that, I’m usually back to my bubbly self in no time.

In your opinion, how can parents keep a balance in the way children use the internet and social media?

When it comes to checking internet use among children, I believe in a blend of early tuning and frequent supervision, especially in their early years. I would suggest that parents try and introduce the children to some of the beneficial sides of the internet as early as possible. This will help them associate the internet with more positives than negatives. In addition, parents should consider setting specific times allocated for internet use by the children. This helps the youngsters learn to use it in moderation. Lastly, they should try and be aware of the content their children are consuming as well as monitor who they are engaging with online.

Do you have anyone you look up to and why?

Currently, I believe that people like Njugush, Kateactress, and Abel Mutua have made significant strides in their fields, particularly in content creation. They began from nothing, overcame obstacles, and established themselves in the field. They inspire me when it comes to my content creation journey.

The year is almost coming to an end. What are you grateful for so far?

Wow, I'm grateful for a lot. Among the first things that spring to mind is the fact that, in comparison to other years, my social media following has increased exponentially this year. Additionally, I've had the chance to meet people like Njugush and Lulu Hassan who I never would have imagined meeting. Overall, the year has been excellent thus far.