How I Found My Way to University After Eight Years: A personal journey of resilience, sacrifice, and the courage to start again.
By Uwamariya Alphonsine
In Rwanda, access to higher education is steadily improving, with universities and scholarship programs opening doors for many young people. Yet for some, the journey to university is not immediate. It is delayed by years of financial struggles, responsibilities, and life circumstances.
For Uwamariya Alphonsine, now a Mass Communication student at East African University, that journey took eight years.
On a quiet evening in Kigali, surrounded by students rushing into lecture halls, Alphonsine paused before entering her classroom. For others, it was an ordinary day. For her, it marked the beginning of a long-awaited dream.
“I always believed I would go to university one day,” says Alphonsine. “But there were moments when that dream felt very far away.”
After completing high school, she was unable to continue her education due to financial challenges. With no immediate support for tuition, she joined the workforce instead, taking on a full-time job to meet her daily needs. Like many young people in Rwanda facing similar situations, education had to wait.
“There were times I felt completely stuck,” she recalls. “I wanted to study and grow, but life kept telling me to focus on survival first.”
Years passed, but her ambition did not fade. While working, Alphonsine developed professional skills and eventually began working as a virtual assistant. Through this experience, she strengthened her communication, organization, and problem-solving abilities. However, she still felt that higher education would unlock greater opportunities.
“I knew I could do more if I had the chance to study,” she explains.
Her turning point came when she learned about a scholarship opportunity from East African University, one that aligned perfectly with her long-held dream.
“When I heard about the scholarship, I felt hope again,” she says. “It felt like the moment I had been preparing for all those years.”
After applying and being accepted, Alphonsine finally stepped into a university classroom not as the same person who had left high school years before, but as someone shaped by experience, resilience, and determination.
Choosing to study Mass Communication was a deliberate decision. The course aligns with her passion for communication and her career as a virtual assistant.
“I wanted a program that would help me express myself better, improve my public speaking, and open more professional opportunities,” she says.
According to a representative from East African University, opportunities like scholarships are designed to support students who may have faced delays in their education.
“Many students in Rwanda are capable but face financial or personal challenges,” the representative explains. “Our goal is to create access and give them a second chance to achieve their academic goals.”
Education experts note that such initiatives are increasingly important in Rwanda, where youth empowerment and skills development are key to national growth. By supporting students who return to school later, institutions help reduce inequality and expand opportunities.
Now balancing her studies with her work as a virtual assistant, Alphonsine says the experience has already begun to transform her outlook on life and her future.
“My confidence has grown, and I can now see opportunities I couldn’t see before,” she reflects. “Even though I haven’t graduated yet, I already feel the impact of being here.”
Her story represents more than personal success. It reflects a broader reality, one where determination, combined with opportunity, allows young people to rewrite their paths, no matter how delayed their journey may be.
“My journey started late,” Alphonsine says, “but I believe it started at the right time.”
As Rwanda continues to expand access to education, stories like hers highlight the importance of resilience and second chances.
And for Alphonsine, the lesson is clear:
“Success is not about how fast you reach your destination, but about having the courage to keep moving no matter how long the road takes.”
Comments
Post a Comment