Educator, Mentor, Authoress

When my father Y.B.B. Mushala was murdered in 1982, it was a turning point not only for me but for my entire family.  Although I was age 16 when he died, the ramifications of his death were daunting and felt for many years to follow.  It wasn’t until I joined the military in 1985 that I realized I had the same passion and interests as my father.  While he taught at Howard University, for more than 10 years, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to pursue several business ventures.  

My father always found opportunities and time to educate, to mentor and to be an inspiration to many. I inherently have his passion to do the same and have done so by pursuing a career in education and simultaneously exploring my entrepreneurial spirit. While teaching at Cardozo in 1992, I saw the need in mentoring teenage girls and I developed a mentoring program called Sisters in Progress. It was during my time teaching at Duke Ellington School of the Arts (1995-2001) that I saw a greater need not only for mentoring young souls, but also for counseling.

A native of Tanzania, East Africa my father was from Tanzania and my mother is Ugandan and I was raised in Washington, D.C. I completed a degree in education from H.U. in 1990 but not before I joined the United States Army Reserve in 1985.  While I worked as a school teacher in the D.C. Public Schools, I became a member of the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade.  I served in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Provide Comfort, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  I retired from the US Army Reserve after 23 years of service in January 2009 and I am currently pursuing a M.S degree in Mental Health Counseling, as aspire to provide counseling not only to veterans but also young adults who can benefit from mentorship.

As I reflect on my journey, I understand that God is ordering my steps. It is no coincidence that my last name, Mushala is derived from the Arabic word, In šā' Allāh or Masha'Allah which means “God has willed it" or “God willing“.  All that I aspire to do and have been able to accomplish is because of the will of God so I thank God eternally.