Nelly Eva: From struggling in early studies to leading Tanzania’s top elementary school

Every remarkable success demands that you harness your innate potential; whether you acknowledge it or not, it resides within each of us. 

The innate potential is all about the talent within, passions, dreams, and all the things that make you unique.

The head of Maple Bloom Elementary School, Nelly Eva Louis, a 30-year-old Tanzanian woman, has emerged as a symbol of resilience and passion.

Despite failing in her elementary school and facing rejection from her educational institution, she discovered her talents and strengths that extended beyond conventional academic boundaries.

Having pursued a double major in psychology and child and youth development at Monash University in South Africa, she stands as a testament to the idea that academic struggles do not define one’s capabilities.

Narrating her journey, Nelly says she was fueled by a genuine love for children and a curiosity about human behaviour, leading her to understand the importance of recognising the child within every individual.

“From a young age, I really loved children, and I will always engage with them. I was curious to understand human behaviour and why people behaved and did things a certain way. From a young age, I decided to go down to the roots of psychology, and that’s what I did for my undergrad. That’s what I did for my high school as well, and other than that, I double majored at the university in psychology and childhood development.

“Before doing my undergrad, I did some research and realised you cannot understand an adult. A full person understands the child in them, and for me, it’s all about understanding the child in a person. Whether you’re two years old or 50 years old, there’s a child inside that you do need to understand in order to reach somebody, and so with that career path, with those options that are, you know, my passion, I went down that route and came back to Tanzania, and there wasn’t much opportunity for me to pursue a career in psychology,” she explains.

Despite her age, what sets Nelly apart from other principles is how passionate she is about understanding each and every child.

That’s why she’s had the success of becoming the head of Tanzania’s top elementary school.

However, what helps Nelly strive for success is her focus on the journey rather than the end result.

“My focus is always to do my best. I’m a bit of a perfectionist. In my personal life, I am very detail-oriented. I am very resilient, and no matter what comes, I bounce back. I fight for whatever it is. And I don’t let things put me down for too long. And I am consistent with the way I operate,” she shares.

Nelly further added that, when it comes to risks, she’s big on taking calculated risks and strategizing them.

“I weigh out the options and I do the research. I think that’s something, if not all, of the decisions. If it’s based on research, then I am okay with making mistakes. I am okay with listening to my team and taking some input,” she explains.

Any successful person requires teams to achieve their goals and climb the ladder, and it’s not about just a team.

It requires teams that are capable and dedicated to their work and have the same goals.

For Nelly, it’s also about the team she’s working with.

She shares that when it comes to greatness, it’s all about her team.

“I would not achieve anything without my team. I am always listening. And over the years, I’ve learned a lot from children. I’ve learned a lot from the teachers that I’ve worked with, and I didn’t really focus on being the head of school. That was never my focus,” Nelly explains.

Growing up, we all had some dreams—dreams that some people pursued while others kept on nurturing.

According to Nelly, back in the day, she wanted to be a singer. However, she was still growing up, so maybe she will be able to sing one day.

“Based on ability, I was able to sing, so I did have the skill set. Growing up, I wanted to become a lot of things because I think there’s a lot inside me, but I think what? My focus—I think that was consistent—was a lot for children, and I am grateful. My parents allowed me to pursue it. In preschool, the focus is all about child interest and using what the child has, which is a play-based approach, which means you use what the child is interested in,” says Ms Nelly.

She further added that she didn’t know what it would be if she did force issues, and you know, she goes to the studio every weekend.

She says that ‘when you’re young and impressionable, you’re open to a lot of manipulation, and parents need to protect their children.”

Speaking of what derails women’s progress in the corporate world, Nelly believes that more women are currently excelling compared to the past.

She believes that a lot of women are now climbing to the top of the ladder.

Today, women are prioritising themselves and exhibiting a heightened sense of focus, she adds.

“I think we live in a very powerful time for women. Women are doing big things, which was not the case in the past. I think currently, especially with the female President, women have really come up, and they’re really climbing those ladders,” she elaborates.

Handling children isn’t an easy task because it requires time, love, and the true care that parents share with their children.

This is why, as the head of the school at Maple Bloom, before hiring anyone, Nelly usually looks for a god-fearing quality.

“My seniors, my roommates, my team—they're deeply rooted in their faith. There's a reverence for God, irrespective of one's religious beliefs. And I think when you’re working with children, you need that,” she explains.

Ms Nelly advises aspiring female educators to believe in their inner strength because everyone has a purpose.

“I didn’t plan to be head of school; there was never a plan. I believed in what I believed, and I believed in excellence. I believed in providing quality care for children and following procedures when it comes to taking care of people’s children. I honoured the responsibility that they put in me to do those things, and I just kept going. I followed whatever pathways were sent. I stood for the truth; I stood for ethics,” she shares.

She further added that it’s important to separate what you think and what you feel because that’s a good step to success.

“Sometimes I feel scared. Sometimes I feel sad, and that’s fine. Feel. Don’t ignore your feelings. Feel, however, what do you think you have to think logically?”

Nelly’s commitment lies in extracting the utmost potential from her students.

Her ambition is to elevate Maple Bloom into a renowned talent school, providing a nurturing environment where children can cultivate and refine their innate talents.