Queen of Katwe: The Story of Hope, Strategy, Perseverance

Our geography or age does not define our ultimate potential, a strong, passionate heart charts our course when we are in pursuit of our destiny. 

The Queen of Katwe is based on a true story, which follows the life of Ugandan Chess Champion Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) as she discovers the game that will change the way she experiences the world. It is a story of fierce determination, overcoming odds and absolute triumph. Disney’s Queen Of Katwe is sure to move you, entertain you and even spark or reignite your interest in playing chess (thats a maybe though).

Reasons for sharing this is because the movie depicted the spirit of a champion. The story is about hope, strategy, perseverance and a mother who never gave up on her children despite the circumstances. This film is filled with inspiration and determination. David Oyelowo and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o also star in the film, directed by Mira Nair.

Here are some powerful life lessons you can discover in Queen of Katwe:

• Never Surrender ~ In the movie, Phiona’s mentor, Katende, says, “Do not be quick to tip your king. You must never surrender.” This is a theme that shows up throughout the movie, because even though Phiona gets discouraged, she keeps moving on.

• Where you come from does not define where you’re going-Many times, we look at what we lack or our present circumstances, and we believe that is the best that can happen to us. We may not know that there is so much more we can achieve because we’ve never seen it. We can achieve way more than what we’ve been conditioned to believe we can.

• Challenges are not curses - Quote by Walt Disney “life is comprised of light and shadows.” So often in life, we feel like these challenges come into our lives to punish or keep us from succeeding, when in fact, this is just the opposite. 

• You can become bigger than what you already are ~ Gloria says, “In chess, the small one can become the big one. That’s why I like it.” When she says this, she is referring to the fact that a seemingly worthless and helpless piece, the pawn, can become the most powerful piece on the board: The Queen. We can progress the same way the pawn does, too. Your past doesn't determine your future. You decide your own future and it's only limited by your dreams and imagination.

• Hope always wins, stay focused on the destination-It is so easy to lose hope. It’s easy to get discouraged when something we’ve dreamed for looks as though it’s slipped from our hands. It’s easy to give up when there is turbulence and setbacks along the journey. But if you only focus on the setbacks, you can never get to the destination. You don’t have to worry about how you’ll get there, just that you will get there if you stay focused.

• You belong where you believe you belong-"Sometimes the place you are used to is not the place where you belong; you belong where you believe you belong." The question to ask yourself is, where is that for you? 

• You must be willing to take risks in order to achieve what you never dreamed was possible ~ Phiona asks her mom, “Can you do big things from such a small place?” She says, “Don’t think about such things. You might be disappointed.” Sometimes you are disappointed when pursuing your dreams, but we should be willing to take that risk.

• You don’t have to fit in to win- Too often, we’re paying attention to what everyone else is doing. We look at successful people and think: How could I ever get there? And then, somehow we believe that if we’re more like them, we’ll be more successful. Queen of Katwe proves that winning is not about fitting in. It’s about showing up authentically and doing what you do best.

• You don’t have to compromise your integrity in order to thrive- Integrity is everything. What you do when no one is watching is more important than what you do when everyone is paying attention. Staying true to your values and your morals is what will take you far in life, and open up doors no one can close.

• A goal without a plan is just a wish- it’s not enough to just say or desire what you want. You have to dream it, believe it and then create a plan of action in order to achieve it. 

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