From a Random Link to University of British Columbia, Canada: A Leap of Faith That Changed My Life | Akwanwi Fru

I'm screaming!!!!!! And yes, I'm officially in Canada and here's a little backstory on how I got here

Now that I am officially settled in Canada, I’ve finally taken a moment to sit back, breathe, and reflect on how I got here.

If you had told me a year ago that I would be pursuing my degree at the University of British Columbia as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, I would have found it hard to believe.

Here is the truth: I never even knew scholarships existed for university students (I knew about primary and secondary school scholarships cuz I had received some before).

One day in September 2025, during my leisure time, I was simply looking for conferences or webinars to attend to expand my horizons. That was when I stumbled upon a link. Out of curiosity, I clicked on it, verified it was legitimate, and saw that it was a fully funded scholarship opportunity (Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia). I wasn't entirely sure of my chances, but I decided to take a step of faith and expressed interest.

Fast-forward to February 2026, the call and e-mail came: I was granted admission to the University of British Columbia into the UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and the UBC Master of International Forestry Program, and awarded the prestigious Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia Scholarship.

My first-ever scholarship application, and I got in as the only #Cameroonian in my cohort.

The journey wasn't without its stressful moments. There were doubts, long nights, and overwhelming pressure. But through it all:

My lecturers never gave up on me; I'd call them even at midnight to remind them to submit their recommendation letters (I was such a pain at the time, and thank God they were patient with me)

My friends (cus my family didn't even know I had applied for a scholarship; I didn't want another pressure being mounted on me) remained my anchor and constant strength.

And most importantly, I believed in myself.

To anyone who feels uncertain about taking a chance, or who is sitting on an opportunity because they feel underqualified: apply anyway. Take that step. You never know which "random link" or quiet effort will completely transform your life.

Extremely grateful for this new chapter, the community that lifted me, and the incredible journey ahead at UBC!

My appreciation goes to;

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia for believing I could make a difference in their community.

UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, UBC Master of International Forestry JUMFON BHENSENYOH NYONG PRINCELY AWAZI#MastercardFoundation #UBC #MastercardFoundationScholars #HigherEducation #Grateful #BelievingInYourself #InternationalStudents #Canada #UBCScholars Prepare to get sick of me cuz I'll be taking y'all on this journey Akwanwi Fru

UBC| Master of International Forestry| Mastercard Foundation Scholar’26 | Tutor| STEM Girl| NATURE PRESERVATION ENTHUSIAST