How Can One's Whole Perspective on Leadership Change in Just One Week? My YYAS 2026 Story | Tamo Ashley Nkeng
My name is Tamo Ashley Nkeng, a young girl from Bamenda, Cameroon. When I applied for the Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) program, all I saw were applications, documents, deadlines, and endless nights of wondering, “What if I’m not good enough?”
When I got that YYAS acceptance e-mail, my heart did the exact same flip it did when I got into the TechGirls Program. That same scream, that same "Wait, me?!"
At 16, TechGirls gave me my first flight ever, all the way to the United States. At 17, YYAS gave me my second, to Nairobi, Kenya for YYAS 2026.
From Cameroon to America at 16. From Cameroon to Kenya at 17. Who knows? Maybe by 20, I'll have gone round the world. That's what happens at Open Dreams, dreams don't just come true, they take flight. Literally.
I went in expecting long seminars, thought-provoking conversations on Africanism, the African diaspora and Afrofuturism, and the opportunity to meet like-minded peers. I came in thinking leadership was about having all the answers and walking ahead alone.
I left knowing it’s about listening, building community, and creating space for others to rise with you.
In 7 days, the days unfolded like chapters:
1. In seminars and lectures, I didn't just absorb knowledge.
I questioned, I wrestled, and I was blown away by how simply I was thinking before. We talked about colonial influence on our culture, music, and art. I learned that the strongest leaders know when to be quiet.
2. During Design for Impact, everything shifted.
We had to think like innovators, like during the Nairobi immersion tour where we pitched a project at BookBunk Nairobi to improve their management system. I realized innovation doesn’t always need millions. Sometimes it starts with: “What can I do with what I already have?”
3. We spoke directly with admissions officers.
They walked us through the whole university application process. That transparency opened my eyes. It made rooms I once only dreamed of feel accessible. It made me believe that my voice, my story, my ambitions, they have a place.
4. We visited a company in Kenya that turns flip-flops into products.
Seeing waste transformed into opportunity hit me hard. It showed me that impact can start small, local, and creative.
But beyond the classrooms, the magic was in the people.
110 voices from every nook and cranny of Africa. I learned there is not a singular "African story." It was family time that turned strangers into confidants, quiet conversations during wiggle time, late-night talks about identity, justice, and possibility, and laughter that reminded me that leadership can also look like joy.
Somewhere between the first conversation and the final goodbye, YYAS stopped feeling like a program and started feeling like a community.
YYAS wasn’t just a program. It was a mirror that showed me who I am, a map that showed me where I can go, and a chorus reminding me I am not walking alone.
A Special Thank You to Open Dreams
This journey would not have been possible without Open Dreams.
Thank you for your constant support, for believing in young Cameroonians like me, and for providing students with opportunities that change the trajectory of our lives. You gave a TechGirl wings to America at 16, and you gave her another runway to Kenya at 17. Thank you for proving that with hard work and the right community, dreams do come through.
To the YYAS 2026 cohort, thank you for making this unforgettable. This is just the beginning.
- Tamo Ashley Nkeng | YYAS 2026 Alumna, Cameroon
This is such an inspiring reflection on how quickly a meaningful experience can transform someone’s perspective on leadership. The lessons around confidence, collaboration, and personal growth show how valuable opportunities like YYAS can be for young people. Alongside developing leadership skills, students often need strong academic support too, and a Best Assignment Help Website can be helpful when managing research, writing, and coursework. A thoughtful story with some genuinely motivating takeaways!