By Sainabou Sambou
New author Fatou Touray has urged young people not to let failure, difficult circumstances, or the opinions of others define their future, insisting that their stories are still being written.
Touray made the remarks on Thursday during the launch of her book, When Mindset Shifts, Life Shifts Too, held at Alliance Française de Banjul on Kairaba Avenue. The event brought together students, well-wishers, and supporters for an evening focused on personal growth, resilience, and the belief that change remains possible even after setbacks.
Speaking at the launch, Touray said the book grew out of challenges, reflection, and personal growth. She explained that she wrote it to encourage readers to believe in themselves and to keep moving forward despite the difficulties they face. Addressing the audience directly, she said people should not allow their present circumstances to close off the possibility of a different future.
“Do not let your current situation convince you that your future cannot be different. Your story is not finished,” Touray said.
She also cautioned against treating failure as the end of a journey or allowing other people’s judgments to determine a person’s worth. In her view, setbacks can become part of growth rather than a permanent verdict on ability or character.
“Do not allow your failure to convince you that you are a failure. Do not allow someone’s opinion to define you,” she said.
According to Touray, the book contains stories, lessons, and practical guidance for people dealing with stress, rebuilding confidence, or entering a new chapter in their lives. She said it is also intended for those who believe they have more to offer but have not yet found the courage to pursue their goals. She said the message is not that circumstances disappear, but that a shift in mindset can change how a person responds to them and what they attempt next.
Talibeh Dukureh, President of the Muslim Students Association at the Civil Service University, said changing one’s mindset can help people respond better to life’s challenges. He argued that while many events remain outside individual control, our response to them does not.
“Sometimes we cannot change what happens to us. We cannot control every circumstance, every disappointment, or every obstacle that comes our way. But we can change the way we respond to them,” he said.
Dukureh added that resilience, confidence, and adaptability are important when facing difficulties. He also called for greater respect, humility, and compassion, noting that some people may be silently dealing with personal struggles that are not visible to others. Words and actions, he said, can carry more weight than speakers often realize.
“Sometimes people go through a lot in silence, and we may never know the impact our words or actions can have on them,” he said.
Alieu Saho, Touray’s guardian, expressed pride in her achievement and described her as a respectful young woman who loves learning. He recalled that Touray’s mother passed away when she was young and that her father entrusted her to him to raise. “I will say she is my daughter,” he said.
Saho described the publication of the book as only the beginning of Touray’s writing journey and expressed confidence that she would produce more books in the future. He said the launch marked an early step rather than a final destination.
“This is just the beginning for Fatou. She will write many books, and one day she will just sit and say, ‘I wrote this book,’ Saho said.
