How being selected as a Jumbam Scholar brought me back to life

Life is full of surprises and some of them are challenges.

I was born in Santa, a subdivision of Cameroon’s North West Region. Before 2016, I was an average Santa teenager. My father was a trader so he traveled frequently for business. My mother, a seamstress, was home more often than my father. Both worked hard to ensure that we got a respectable education, and were fed, clothed, and sheltered.

Our lives were disrupted in 2016. At the time, I was in Form two (seventh grade) and I vividly remember our teacher informing us that schools would be closed for about a week because of the anglophone crisis. That week came and went, then weeks turned into months. Without signs of school resuming, life became boring and uncertain. More than a year later, schools resumed partially. Sadly, less than a month later, the school was attacked by unknown gunmen. Several students were injured, the school was set ablaze, and we were back at home once again.

Following this incident, my father decided we would move to the regional capital, Bamenda. Unfortunately, bad news followed us there too as my elder brother died shortly after our arrival.

Shortly after my brother’s death, tragedy befell our family yet again. This time, my father was killed by gunmen on one of his business trips. One would think that my family would have become accustomed to pain and horror but every event seemed different - almost like we were rediscovering these emotions. One thing was different with my dad’s death: I knew that my life would take a very different course. And it did almost immediately.

My fellow scholars and I with Mr. Ngolefac Emmanuel, our trusted mentor during a mentorship visit in March 2023

After my father’s burial, his family rushed to divide his property among themselves leaving my mom and siblings penniless. They justified their actions with two arguments. First, they suggested my mother could remarry and have her new husband take care of us. Secondly, they said my mother could marry me off because I was old enough. I had never felt as powerless as I felt in that instant. The realization that in the eyes of my paternal family, my mother and I were nothing more than goods that could be traded without our consent. My brave mother chose to take matters into her own hands and moved to the economic capital, Douala. Mindful that she could not take care of us while working full-time, she left my brother and me in the care of a relative in Makenene (Centre Region).

Makenene was the logical succession of our series of bad breaks. I dropped out of school when we did not have any money to pay for school fees and started working in a restaurant. I saved enough money to pay my tuition and resume school the next year. However, this came at a very steep cost. I developed health problems and the out-of-pocket medical expenses left us financially vulnerable.

I knew one thing for certain - I did not want to get married! I wanted to go to school! I wanted to become a doctor!

The following year, my brother and I moved back to Bamenda where I finally wrote the GCE Ordinary Levels and passed with seven papers. The joy of passing the GCE made me forget my new reality. I was excited to finally be a high school student but my bubble popped very quickly. My mother and I couldn't afford the tuition. Once again, it was suggested that it was finally time for me to get married. This time, however, the suggestion was made by my maternal family. I was devastated, frustrated, traumatized, and confused. In my confusion, I knew one thing for certain - I did not want to get married! I wanted to go to school! I wanted to become a doctor! Despite my initial resistance, I quickly realized that my dreams may not come to fruition. I had to think about more than just myself. I had to take care of my little brother like my elder brother, father, and mother had taken care of me.

Having fun with my friend and roommate Christabel

I had almost resigned myself to becoming a teenage bride and then everything changed. Just as I was about to give up, a friend sent me information about a scholarship and suggested I should apply for it. This was going to be my last chance. I applied and to my great surprise, I was selected as a Ngek Constantine Jumbam Scholar. As a scholar, I would have full tuition plus boarding. I could not believe it! I did not have to get married! I could become a doctor!

Being chosen as a Jumbam Scholar brought me back to life like a defibrillator.

The scholarship made me realize that despite all the challenges life throws at me, I should never give up. Being a Jumbam Scholar has taught me to dream big and work hard for this dream.

I still dream of becoming a medical doctor and I now know I can accomplish this if I believe in myself and work hard. But more importantly, I realize that I am not alone. I have since met other scholars with stories similar to mine - lives uprooted by the anglophone crisis and with no hope in sight. I am thankful for the opportunity given to me by the Jumbam Family Foundation and I intend to make the most of it. The scholarship has given me another shot at life and I promise not to waste it. As a physician, I will lift others and help put them back on track like the Jumbam Family Foundation did for me.