I went to the university of Buea, Cameroon for three years and all through that time, worries of what will my future look like kept on resurfacing. The sad thing is, the answers never came. Taking this into consideration, it is no surprise that I took this step to come to the US in search of a brighter future About three months into this journey of mine, I am convinced this was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, things are never black and white. The grey in my story comes from the fact that everyday, I have to think about ways to bring down the financial burden. Everyday, I have to pray my family back home doesn't lack anything because of the sacrifices they are making for me. Still, I am a firm believer in there being light after the tunnel and to see that light, one has to make efforts to leave that tunnel. From my first week in the US, I found a job on campus. I get paid 10$ an hour and work 20 hours a week, the maximum for an international student like myself. In addition to this, I get some side cash by braiding over the weekends and try my best to save every single cent and not spend it on myself. Things are better for sure and I am extremely grateful to God that I can at least cover my rooming every month by myself. Still, things could be better and I pray that with time they will get better. I thrive to one day be able to give back to my mama, who has sacrificed so much for me. Getting the Hyacinth Malcolm memorial scholarship will be a great help in helping me alleviate the financial burden of international student tuition fees. With it, I know my family back home will also be better off as majority of the income will no longer need to be sent to me. It breaks my heart every time my mama has to sacrifice on things because of financial distress. Whenever she tells me that, I know I am partly at cause and pray that I may soon relieve her from this extra stress. In resume, I think the Hyacinth Malcolm memorial scholarship will help me financially in attaining my educational goals. With it, worries of how am I going to pay the next tuition installment will be alleviated and concentrating on my studies will be easier. Ultimately, my family's worries will be reduced and that to me has no price.

I went to the university of Buea, Cameroon for three years and all through that time, worries of what will my future look like kept on resurfacing. The sad thing is, the answers never came. Taking this into consideration, it is no surprise that I took this step to come to the US in search of a brighter future About three months into this journey of mine, I am convinced this was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, things are never black and white. The grey in my story comes from the fact that everyday, I have to think about ways to bring down the financial burden. Everyday, I have to pray my family back home doesn't lack anything because of the sacrifices they are making for me. Still, I am a firm believer in there being light after the tunnel and to see that light, one has to make efforts to leave that tunnel. From my first week in the US, I found a job on campus. I get paid 10$ an hour and work 20 hours a week, the maximum for an international student like myself. In addition to this, I get some side cash by braiding over the weekends and try my best to save every single cent and not spend it on myself. Things are better for sure and I am extremely grateful to God that I can at least cover my rooming every month by myself. Still, things could be better and I pray that with time they will get better. I thrive to one day be able to give back to my mama, who has sacrificed so much for me. Anither issue I face in attaining my goals are lack of proper academic counseling. I have always beign very academically inclined ad can be confirmed by my GPA back in my home country and current grades in the university of Memphis. The past years in my life, I went to school for a training I had no interest in. Now that I am here, I am looking at ways to make the best of the credits I had back in my home country but realise that to do what I really like, I would have to restart from scratch. This means that, all I did for the past three academic years will be wasted. I have met multiple career counselors at school and academic advisors about this, but never get any definite answer on what would be best. I would love to follow my dreams but considering finances and the fact that I have junior siblings, my hands are tied. Overall, this beautiful journey I have embarked on has come with it's fair share of worries and I am convinced more are on their way. Despite this, I take one day at a time and have full confidence that hard work together with support from friends and family will pay off.