I sit with a lot of pride from my room here at the University of Oxford, to pen down this story of mine. It’s been a long wait, an extremely long one.
I still vividly recall when I submitted my very first application for graduate school back in 2020 whilst at the Protestant University of Central Africa. To think that this opportunity has only been made possible after almost four years is quite unbelievable but true. On my very first attempt for graduate studies abroad, I secured admission at two remarkable universities: Sciences Po Paris and the American University of Beirut (AUB). While I secured some form of scholarship at AUB, at Sciences Po, I only made it to the waiting list of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship. To me, this was a strong sign that my journey to graduate school would be smooth, like a smoked fish in a shallow gutter as my economics teacher would always say back in Sacred Heart College, Mankon - Bamenda.
At the University of Oxford in real time
Despite smelling the gates of success prematurely, the actual achievement only came a few years later. Today it looks evident that Oxford was destined on my itinerary when I connect the dots. Nonetheless, that didn’t happen overnight.
I grew up with my uncle George Town after losing my Father in 2004. My uncle was an assiduous individual who didn’t only believe in my potential to the point of paying for my studies at one of the best secondary schools in the country, but my time with him also instilled in me a number of strong values. I developed a strong culture of hard work, go-getter mindset and resilience. I believe that the environment in which one grows greatly shapes their way of thinking, dreaming and believing in themselves.
For my case, every single place where I have ever belonged pushed me to dream and work beyond my abilities. Back in Sacred Heart College, I studied with the children of ministers, senators, general managers and what have you. Coming from a family where almost everyone was a peasant farmer, life would have made me believe that I belonged to that category. Although my uncle was doing well, I still couldn’t afford to level up with my mates who came from better backgrounds. To me, this was my first motivation to work hard and never dream half. I didn’t do that with the eye of comparison, but rather with that of uplifting my livelihood.
From that moment back in secondary school, I told myself that I would always dream big and go for the very best. This also translated into two things: I had to be the best version of myself and develop a culture of resilience. It is in this spirit that I graduated first with honors in the GCE Advanced level and then Valedictorian and overall best graduate at the Protestant University of Central Africa.
My journey to graduate school wasn’t a camel ride in the Sahara. I understand sometimes people attribute certain happenings to luck when they cannot align patterns. At some point in my application journey, I felt as the unluckiest person of my generation. To be sincere, I even began to imagine my “village people” being underpinned to my misfortune. The outcome right now, securing prestigious scholarships at some of the world’s very best universities may make things appear easy.
Contrary to popular belief, despite graduating Valedictorian, overall best graduate alongside my impressive CV as some often outlined, I was rejected over 20 times in three years. Oh! Yes, I even had schools admit me a year and reject me the following year. Maybe it is during this outcome that I came to the conclusion that, graduate journey will need much more, or maybe it was my problems with grandeur and my wish to go only for the very best.
"In search of excellence" - moderating the Open Dreams Graduate Summit. #ODGS2024
I must admit that my journey stems from a long time ago, from my days in Sacred Heart College, to my time with my Uncle. The political discussions we often had, the servant leadership style I was brought up to practice greatly influenced my life choices. Today, after securing half a dozen scholarships at the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University College London, Durham University, Syracuse University, Brandeis University, I am studying for a Master of Public Policy at the highly selective Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, a program which aligns with both my short and long-term career objectives.
I remain extremely grateful for all those who have come before me, and who held my hand in this journey. If I hadn’t worked extremely hard back in high school, I wouldn’t have received my first nomination for scholarship at Sciences Po back in 2016 through Open Dreams. It is this same spirit that propelled me to higher ranks within the community, and I have since then assisted in a good number of programs and background work which has enabled other scholars to strive and for the organization to grow.
Brief moment with year-abroad Americans, Kaleb Wever and Woodkensia Charles alongside the rest of the Open Dreams Program Facilitators (Nteta Philip, Nnane Ntube, James Akaba, Bill Njoh Agha)
My time at Open Dreams has been a true test of my servant leadership and resilience. I never gave up because I knew where I was coming from, but also because of the enabling environment which Open Dreams provided.
Open Dreams at 10 Celebrations - visiting university reps at the frontline
I can only give one solid piece of advice to whoever is reading this today. If you want to be first in life, you must learn how to outshine the others. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. You need to put in the hard work, you need to repeat it again, again and again until it works out.
Hans Kullberg (Open Dreams co-founder), Ibrahim, team USIU-A et all at the 10th Anniversary celebration
You cannot afford to be mediocre in your efforts and achievements, you cannot permit yourself to fumble for a minute. The world has become too competitive for anyone to remain average. You also cannot give up based on people’s failed stories. You must believe in the journey you have built within yourself and keep going without keeping counts.
IF YOU GIVE UP, NA YOU SABI.
Prince Forghab Donald | Open Dreams
Inspiring.
Congrats Prince 👑