Endless rejections! Hawking by day, applying by night. And finally, the “Congratulations” that changed everything | Tchinda Wilhelm Arcene

My scholarship journey began in 2020, in the modest setting of my Lower Sixth classroom. My passion for studying abroad was a quiet flame until my Chemistry teacher and mentor, Mr. Ngolefac Emmanuel, urged me to apply for a fellowship. That single spark ignited a relentless pursuit. Through him, I discovered Open Dreams, a platform that reshaped my mindset and convinced me that my aspirations were not a fantasy, but a possibility.

Still in lower Sixth, I applied to some fellowships, and 2 universities in Africa, but all got rejections.  In Upper Sixth, Mr. Ngolefac invited Lekane Styve, a former student from my school who had just secured a fully funded scholarship to one of Africa’s top universities, Ashesi, to share his story. His words struck deep. Listening to his story lit a fire in me. He has been an inspiring figure, who guided me with valuable mentorship for years.  Soon after, I connected with Blessing Lum (the current Regional Program Coordinator of Bamenda), whose mentorship sharpened my strategies and broadened my perspective as well.

After graduating from high school in 2021, being the best student from my School, I was strongly determined to make my dream a reality. Initially, I wanted to apply into China, but the costs of applying for Chinese scholarships was out of reach, so I focused on other countries. I attended the Open Dreams Summer Academy (online, due to distance), which increased my determination. 

I applied to 4 African universities, 20 in the USA, 5 in Turkey, and some in India. I faced waves after waves of rejections. Yet, Mr. Ngolefac will always encourage me, writing letters of recommendations for me, offering counsel, and actively involving me in outreach programs to inspire other students to dream beyond borders likewise to inform them about the Open Dreams Summer Academy.

By 2022, I was applying almost everywhere: 40+ universities in the US, 2 in the UK, Brunei, Singapore, India, Japan, 5 universities in Turkey. That was when I travelled to Yaoundé for the first time just to have an application form (Brunei Scholarships) authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But once again, rejections followed rejections. The only glimmer of hope came from the Turkish Government Scholarship, where I reached the interview stage and then got rejected.

Financially, I was at a breaking point. I had been hawking since childhood every holiday and even sometimes during the academic year, after returning from school, going for hawking to get funds to support my family and fund part of my education expenses, but the mounting costs of applications fees and documentation drained everything. I made the painful decision to withdraw from the private university I was enrolled in, to spare my parents the burden of debt. 

Towards the end of 2022, I moved to Yaoundé to focus on hawking to save every single franc to fund my applications for scholarships likewise Chinese scholarships. Determined to strengthen my chances, 1 month prior to leaving Bafoussam to settle in Yaounde, I self-studied for the Chinese proficiency exam (HSK Intermediate) very seriously without ever stepping into a classroom to study the language. I studied entirely on my own and two days after arriving in Yaoundé, I took the Chinese language test and achieved a perfect score.

In Yaoundé at the Open Dreams Center

2023 was the toughest year. I would hawk during the day under the sun, return home in the evening, and work throughout the night on scholarships applications. My nights were sleepless marathons of essays to write, applications to submit. That was when I met Sir Pateson Vades Ngoufack, an Open Dreams Tech mentor who studied in China. He illuminated my path through the complex Chinese scholarships process, keeping my resolve alive. That year, amid the crucible of anguish, endless failures, and the slow erosion of every ember of hope, I did everything to keep the flame burning. By then, I could now attend some programs at the Open Dreams Centre in Yaoundé, which continued to motivate me in the process. I applied again to about 30 USA universities, 2 in Africa, few schools in India, and 15+ in China, including the prestigious Chinese Government Scholarship Type A and Type B.

Still rejections upon rejections, till May 10^th, 2023, after years of exhaustion, sacrifice, and unwavering faith, I opened my inbox to the words I had visualized countless times: “Congratulations.”  Against all odds even after missing crucial steps in the process (from interview notification to final admission), I got admitted into Northwestern Polytechnical University, one of China’s top leading University, on a Presidential Scholarship. I also received another Chinese university offer, but NPU was my top choice. 

Today, as I walk the campus, I carry the lessons of every rejection, every single day I hawked under the sun and spending sleepless nights after returning home in the evening to get funds to pay for scholarships application fees likewise for documents authentication. Every single moment, I chose perseverance over surrender.

I am forever grateful to Mr Ngolefac Emmanuel for his unwavering support, motivation and contributions throughout my entire journey. Likewise, to Styve Lekane, Blessing Lum, Pateson Vades Ngoufack, and to the entire family, Open Dreams, each of your impacts is etched permanently into my story. To everyone out there, still in the process, never mistake rejection for defeat. Your path may demand sleepless nights, relentless applications, and painful sacrifices but be patience, believe in yourself and trust in God for his appointed time to come.

Remember: every single day holds a deadline, and somewhere there’s an opportunity just waiting for you to press “submit”, and that changes your life forever. Don’t stop until you click “Submit.” Keep working, keep dreaming, believe in God appointed time, giving up is the worst decision.  Your “Congratulations” is coming.

Today, I stand in my junior year at Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Materials Science and Engineering. When I first set foot on this campus in 2023, I carried with me the weight of years marked by sacrifice, and unyielding faith. I vowed then that I would not merely study here, I would thrive and excel.

From that moment, I approached each day not as a student who had “arrived,” but as a relentless contender determined to seize every academic, cultural, and professional opportunity within reach. In my Freshman Year (2023–2024), I immersed myself in cultural integration and linguistic growth, competing in the NPU Chinese Friendship Contest Competition. I emerged with the 3rd Prize Award and a trophy, a testament that adaptation and courage transcend borders.

In my Sophomore Year (2024–2025), my trajectory took an entrepreneurial turn as I teamed to partake in the 14th Challenge Cup QinChuangYuan Platform National College Students Entrepreneurship Competition (Belt and Road International Invitational). This competition is one of China’s premier arenas for young entrepreneurs and innovators. We did not only compete; we triumphed, securing the Gold Medal Award on the national stage.

This summer 2025, I was selected for the Huawei HarmonyOS (Hongmeng) Academy – Campus Innovation Camp 2025. At its conclusion, I achieved the HarmonyOS App Developer Basic Certification, earning the distinction of being the first African developer to hold this credential from Huawei.

Each of these milestones is a chapter, not the conclusion. The journey continues, and my compass remains set toward achieving the best in my coursework likewise contributing to the serving the community. Every effort is a seed. Some sprout quickly, others take years, but each one grows if you keep planting. Resilience is not passive endurance; it is active persistence, even when the outcome seems distant. Your starting point does not dictate your destination.

• Tchinda Wilhelm Arcene | Open Dreams