Divine Alignment: The Dots Always Connect | Prof. Joyce Ashuntantang

Divine alignment is just that: divine. You may not always understand how the dots will connect, but trust me, they always do, in their perfect timing. Sometimes, the path forward looks like a step back.

I experienced this firsthand when I entered the Higher Teachers Training College (École Normale) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with a Master's Degree from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. This was a very unusual move, especially for someone who was relatively well-known at the time.

When my scholarship for a Ph.D. didn't come through, I found myself doing menial cleaning jobs in England. No work permit, no prospects. I decided it was better to go back home than "tough it out" in the UK. Yes, I was going to get a lesser certificate- a post graduate diploma, but at least I will get a job. Also, I knew I would make a phenomenal teacher, and other opportunities will open up for me. I have always followed my own path without bothering about what the "crowd" is doing. Fortunately, at this time entrance to Ecole Normale was via application only, no exam.

I applied to École Normale from the UK with the help of my friend Joan Njei, got accepted, returned to Cameroon and gave it my all. I never underestimate any venture. I still remember my final teaching exam. I walked into the classroom with Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba playing from a cassette, snapping my fingers to the rhythm. I danced through the aisles, bringing the reading comprehension text on Miriam Makeba alive for my students. This was before PowerPoints and internet slideshows; it was pure creativity, raw passion. When it came time to defend my dissertation, École Normale had never seen such an enthusiastic crowd and a spirited defence. Results? I passed with Mention très bien (highest honors), marking the culmination of a journey defined by resilience and unwavering commitment.

A few years later, I relocated to the United States, a new challenge awaited. Will I get a job that reflects my degrees? My sister spotted an ad for peer tutors at Bronx Community College, New York. I did not understand what it entailed, but I followed my instinct. During the interview, Professor Phyllis Read asked me to write an essay on why I wanted to tutor since I was not a student of the college and I had no transcripts with me. At first, I felt insulted, but then I realized: This is an opportunity. Write.

When she read it, she said, “You write well.” I confidently replied, “I know.” She asked why, and I said, “I am a trained teacher of English.” Here I was, brandishing the degree and training that was supposed to be just a step to get a job in Cameroon. What happened next was divine alignment in motion.

Receiving the faculty Excellence Award

She hired me not just as a tutor but as her class assistant for a world literature course. Two weeks later, an adjunct professor resigned, and she recommended me for the position. Just like that, I went from $10 an hour to $45 an hour. That single moment launched my path to becoming a full professor in the United States. I never did any of the jobs that immigrants are forced to do. I knew then, as I know now: never underestimate any venture. You don’t always see how the dots connect, but they will.

You may feel like you’re moving backward but remember: God’s timing is always perfect. If you move with intuition and intention, the dots will always meet in a masterpiece far greater than you imagined.

Keep going. Keep trusting. The dots are connecting.

Prof. Joyce Ashuntantang