My Journey as a PreMed student at MIAPrepa Summer College Readiness Program.
“Life is a journey”. I can hardly count how many times I’ve heard this. You’d think having heard this many times, I’d understand what it means. However, I only recently came to the awareness that in this life’s journey are nested other journeys. I’d be giving you a sneak peek into one of mine and how my experience in MIA (Model Initiative of Africa), transformed my life.
My name is Trecyterma Mejane Esukane, and by the grace of God, I am a medical student at the Faculty of Health Science (FHS) of the University of Buea. How I got here, living my dream was one of a journey of nested journeys. My story starts in 2018. Like every other student who had just obtained the GCE A levels, I was filled with excitement, anxious to spread my wings and face the world. I didn’t bother much about what the world could possibly have in store. I knew what I wanted from Mr World, a place for me in medical school. So, I did what I could to prepare for the National Medical Aptitude Examinations. I had never envisaged a future wherein I wasn’t practising medicine. I’d always maintained outstanding results throughout, I said to myself. Securing a place at the country’s most prestigious schools of medicine shouldn’t be an issue. I needed one spot. Just a spot! That shouldn’t be a lot to ask for, I thought. Time passed, I took the exam and a month later, the results were out, I checked the list, and my name wasn’t on it. I was disappointed but not discouraged even as negative thought started creeping in. I knew I had a whole future ahead of me, shouldn’t there be better opportunities? It was easy to contend that only a few hundred students are able to secure a place amidst thousands who take this examination annually.
I enrolled in university to study Biochemistry, which really was never part of my plans. Honestly, I just could not wait for the academic to round up so that I could take a shot at the National Medical Aptitudes Exams again. Thanks to my older brother who has always wanted the very best for me, I enrolled in the MIAPrepa Summer College Readiness Program organised by MIA in the PreMed program. That year, I began classes almost towards the last days as I had to round off with university commitments. Even though short-lived, I knew I had to put my very best, and trusted God for the rest. Though brief, I had such a great time. The support, mentorship and encouragement I was offered by MIA staff gave me the strength I needed to fight on. So I did write the second time and that fateful day when the results were released, with all expectations, I checked and checked but couldn’t find my name on the list, I just couldn’t believe it! This was so hard, so dark, so tough to take in, for me and my family. Nothing seemed clear anymore. My studies at the university were not encouraging either. WHAT DO I DO NOW? That was the question in my heart.
I was already giving up on studying medicine. I almost gave up on my dreams. I was almost willing to settle for anything. Attempting the national medical exams wasn’t part of my plans anymore. Failure made success seem like an impossibility. Failure wasn’t something I was familiar with and the thought of having failed up to twice, created an invisible wall in my mind that needed a miracle to overthrow. But toward the end of that academic year, something happened. All of a sudden, I felt this deep void in me while teaching at an evening school part-time. While I almost saw this and my future reality at this point, I could no longer feel the drive, something was missing. So, I had to reflect deeply on what this meant and finally, God gave me the strength and I mustered the courage to face this same exam again.
The first place that came to my mind was the Model Initiative of Africa Summer Preparatory programs for PreMed, MIAPrepa. I had every reason to go back there. My few weeks the previous year had been nothing short of transforming and I had met the best teaching staff and mates I could ever think of. The learning atmosphere at MIAPrepa was unique. I am so happy I went back, because my time there during this third attempt, was part of the miracle I needed to bring down the wall of fear, despair and discouragement that stood before me. I remember how the teachers at the centre were so committed, it moved something in me. Our teachers were not just focused on the intellectual part, I felt like they were preparing us for life’s exam itself. The organisation, the unity and the sacrifices they made just to ensure that we had all we needed to face the exam was just so amazing and encouraging. Writing the third time had opened my eyes to realities and made me see many things I was missing out on during my previous attempts. I just couldn’t wait to pass and share my story and all the lessons learnt in order to impact another life and I used to tell myself, “I like what I see here in MIA and I want to be a part of this, supporting and mentoring other students like myself”. And this time, yes! I made it.
I wrote the exams again. About a month later, on a very peculiar and stressful day, an evening I cannot forget, the results were released and I PASSED!!! It is more than just passing an exam for me, it is like a battle I finally won, I fear I finally conquered, I bridge I finally crossed. A journey whose destination I finally arrived.
And today, I can share my story to stir up hope in anyone already giving up and encourage all taking this journey DON’T GIVE UP!!!. MIA is a place to be. And I love to thank everyone, my friends, for the MIA staff and family, my family and loved ones and God Almighty. I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.
Trecyterma Mejane Esukane | Former Student MIA PreMed Program | Faculty of Health Science, The University of Buea.
About MIA: MIA is a Registered nonprofit operating principally in Cameroon equalising access to quality educational opportunities and orientation for students across Africa.
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