Uncertain but Driven: My Journey to the DAAD Scholarship | Lanaka Gaston

Primary and secondary school often feel like perfect systems: you ace your exams, move smoothly from one grade to the next, and rarely have to overthink the path ahead. However, the first true challenge for an intentional student often arises at the crossroads between high school and university. Even with a clearly defined career interest, the pathway to achieving those goals is rarely as straight as one might imagine.

I am grateful to Sir Toulack Kingsley for simplifying this transition in his book, 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘊𝘌, 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵?

Growing up, my answer to the "𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦?" question was typical: I wanted to be the "𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘦," treating patients and saving lives. This dream was immediately challenged after my A-Levels. Despite outstanding results, I did not secure a spot in medical school. With only a few days left before the admission deadline, I had to find an alternative. I chose Biochemistry, initially hoping to gain a year of experience before re-sitting the competitive entrance exams into medical school. Ironically, I grew passionate about the subject. Seeing how closely it aligned with my original career dreams, I decided to stay the course.

My BSc journey was a rollercoaster. There were semesters where I fell short of my targets and others where I exceeded them. The "lows" were significant, including the experience of being kidnapped. However, this journey also transformed me into a leader. Realizing I could help improve the academic performance of my peers, I co-founded 𝘎𝘖𝘌 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺 with like-minded friends. Despite our limited scope at the time, that leadership journey continues today, having impacted over 3,000 students since its inception. I eventually graduated as the best student in my department with a First-Class degree, the first in over a decade. Yet, as graduation approached, the inevitable question surfaced: "𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵?"

That was when Open Dreams entered the picture. A question from a course mate changed everything: "𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴?" At the time, I knew nothing about the organization. Upon joining, my only regret was not finding them sooner. While many join Open Dreams solely for the scholarship opportunities, myself included, I discovered something far more valuable: a profound drive to give back to the community. I joined in pursuit of a scholarship but found a purpose in service.

From my first outreach event at the 2023 Aviva Day to the Graduate Summit in Yaoundé, I began to grow. Under the mentorship of Sir Toulack Kingsley and Dr. Etienne Ngeh, I submitted my first-ever application as a fresh graduate for the Chevening Scholarship. It was a scary start considering the profile, but a fulfilling one.

My search for a scholarship led to a gap year that eventually extended to two, a period that tested my resolve and resilience. I faced rejections from Chevening, the MasterCard Foundation at AUB (twice after interviews), McGill University, Guillaume Dupaix, and GCUB-Mob in Brazil, and even failed in my first attempt at the DAAD Leadership for Africa (LfA) scholarship. But what is worse than a rejection? Giving up!

My second attempt at the DAAD LfA scholarship finally provided the breakthrough I had long awaited: I am officially a DAAD Scholar. DAAD is one of the world's largest funding organizations for international student mobility. My DAAD journey flourished thanks to the supportive Open Dreams community. I owe a special mention to my mentors: Toulack Kingsley, Dr. Etienne Ngeh, Afungfege Evita (my DAAD scholarship mentor), and Blessing Lum. I am also deeply grateful to Sir James Akaba and Mme Guilian Asongtia for providing me with opportunities to serve, from school visits to facilitating sessions at the Summer Academy. I was surrounded by a supportive community and great mentors, which Open Dreams provides. In all you do, get yourself a mentor to guide your path.

As an orphaned child, scaling the academic ladder to achieve my dream of studying abroad feels surreal. This would not have been possible without my supportive family, especially my elder brother, Lanaka Betrand, for believing in my dreams, and finally, to God Almighty, the author of all things.

Amen - Lanaka Gaston | Open Dreams