Dropping Out or Opting Out?

by Sibo Yvette Ishimwe

Sibo Yvette Ishimwe's autobiography, "Dropping Out or Opting Out?", is a personal journey of academic wounds, mental and emotional struggles, and the impact of self-discovery on academic performance. The author shares her experiences of dropping out of the university after being accepted, a decision often met with condemnation and resentment from parents and society.

The book aims to provide valuable lessons for students and parents, offering advice on handling academic depression, not shaming those suffering from it, and dealing with self-shame and shame from society for dropping out of school. The author shares her journey from a happy childhood into a painful academic journey and how her clan's conditional love shaped her sense of self-worth. She is grateful to God for His mercy and love, believing He is ever-present and always there for us. The book serves as a guide for both students and parents to navigate the challenges of academic depression and self-discovery.

The author encourages readers to become their best selves, aligning with God's will. She puts it this "You can return to school, heal the shame and trauma associated with dropping out or opting out of school, find God, forgive, and discover your own true sense of identity and self-worth."Yvette hopes to inspire readers to embrace their worth, persevere, and pursue their dreams, despite past experiences.

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2023

About the author

Sibo Yvette Ishimwe is a Rwandan pharmacist and mental health advocate dedicated to making mental health knowledge clear, accessible, and actionable.

Her first book, Dropping Out or Opting Out?, sparked critical conversations on academic depression and school attrition.

In Minds in the Margins, she continues her mission to translate complex clinical concepts into language that resonates with everyday readers.

She lives in Kigali and is grateful to be surrounded by both of her parents, her three brothers: Yves, Jean-Luc, and Mackenzie and her sister, Pacis.

Reviews

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really amazing , I could easily related to her story . God talked to me through this book! Pain is not always bad for us ,Sometimes pain can be a path of growth and self discovery! I learnt that you can have Jesus and a therapist at the same time when you are not mentally okay. The God who created us is the same God who provides skills and knowledge to the therapist to assist His people when they are not mentally okay !

[R Charles Mugisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Yvette,
I wanted to share my thoughts on your first book, I'm so sorry it took forever to write this, I actually read it just a couple of days after you gave it to me, and I read it in one day. It's a page turner, a great story/testimony, and I have a lot I relate with you. First, you wrote it in such a clear, engaging way that anyone, young or old, can connect with it. Once you start reading, it’s almost impossible to stop.

Thank you for being soo open and vulnerable, willing to share such a personal story of healing to touch others. I also appreciated the practical insights/tips throughout the book that may guide people in dealing with mental health issues. And most of all, the way you grounded everything in identity in Christ is incredible. It’s clear that knowing who you are in Him changed your story, and through this book, you point others to the same truth.

I shared the book with a close friend and she confirmed all these. In one word, thank you for the amazing work you did with the book. I’ve started the second book now, taking my time with it because it’s more of an informative read. I’m already enjoying it, some parts feel familiar as you might expect, but there’s still so much new to learn. A big "Thank you"!