When "I Want to Be..." Isn't Enough | Guilian Asongtia, Open Dreams Douala

Today, July 10th, 2026, we began interviewing candidates for the 2026 Open Dreams Summer Academy in Douala.

As I listened to student after student, one pattern became impossible to ignore.

Many high school students still have no clear understanding of why they want to pursue a particular career. Their choices are often shaped by societal expectations, family influence, or simply because certain careers sound prestigious. Yet, when you ask them why, many struggle to explain their answer.

I can't say I was any different at their age.

But if students are still navigating the same uncertainty I faced almost two decades ago, it tells me that we still have a lot of work to do.

Career guidance cannot begin when university applications are around the corner. It needs to become an intentional part of a student's journey much earlier.

That said, today was incredibly refreshing.

It was a privilege to sit across from these brilliant young minds, hear their stories, challenge their thinking, and catch glimpses of the potential they carry.

I can't wait to meet the incredible personalities that will make up the 2026 Open Dreams Douala Batch of Legacy.

The journey is just beginning.