The Success Stories: Join me congratulate my latest Chevening scholar | Toulack Kingsley

In 2009 while I was serving as a part time mathematics tutor at Ayungha bilingual college, I taught a teenager whom I looked after just like a son. Unfortunately, that same year, he left for Foumban without saying goodbye.

In 2019, a decade later, I received a friend request from him on facebook and we reconnected. Catching up on the ten years, he had graduated from HICM and ENSET of The University of Bamenda and was now serving as an accounting teacher.

Thinking he had had the best of life, I challenged him to dream bigger, get higher qualifications and do bigger things. He loved the idea but was limited financially. When I got the #Chevening scholarship in 2023, I told him I got #Chevening in all excitement but he asked me, what is Chevening? I felt broke because of how popular, prestigious and highly competitive it is (less than 1% of applicants are selected each year). But, I was patient and humble enough to give him a summary of what it is.

Last year, he told me he would like to apply for Chevening and looks up to me for mentorship. Without hesitation, I took him through the essays, then the interview and today, I can repeat what I said in 2023: ´I can’t keep calm, I have been chosen for chevening’ Yes! Because my academic son is chosen so I am chosen again!

It takes dedication and the right mentorship to apply for Chevening once and hit it. I did it with mentorship from Charles Femshang, Yurika Ray and Abanda Jones to whom I remain very grateful. Today, I am glad to have passed it on to my son. He applied once and nailed it.

Join me congratulate my latest Chevening scholar/mentee Fifen Mohamed Aziz as he heads to the The University of Sheffield for an MSc in Finance and Accounting. Today, I celebrate him not only as a Chevening scholar but also for joining one of the most prestigious community of scholars you will find anywhere in the solar system, Open Dreams.

• Toulack Kingsley | Open Dreams