About me

Part 1

My case is a little bit different, because I completed high school eight years ago back the then in Cameroon.

So many of my collegues asked me where this country was, hope this will solve the problem!

Do I really remember the difficulties I encountered transitioning from secondary school to high school? Not sure! However, let’s share my experience in transitioning from an English (British) sub system of education to a francophone system such as that of the Cegep. As you would guess, I encountered quite a number of challenges in trying to integrate the Cegep of Granby. We won’t talk about each one them in detail, unless you want to read not less than 2000 words. As far as the major challenges are concerned, I had to prepare for two solid ears before joining the education system. Why? I had nothing to my active when I arrived here on June 8, 2015. No cash, no job, no car, no licence, etc. So, I had to work hard and full time during those years to meet such basic necessities. The climatic conditions were tough, just imagine yourself leaving a country where temperatures revolve around 30°C to one where temperatures can reach –30°C and even –40°C. I’ve been several times exposed to low temperatures for prolonged periods waiting for a lift or the bus. Transport conditions were tough with sometimes no heater in the bus. Working conditions were tough, standing for hours and fighting with pigs hung upside down on a moving chain. While working I had to prepare for the TFI (Test de Français International), since my previous studies were done in English. The list is non-exhaustive. Cutting the long story short, by March 23, 2016, I had got a rentable a house, by August 10, 2016, I had a car worth 5k, ten months later, I had a driving licence (Probatoire). And by September 2017, I had saved enough cash to finance my studies and sustain a living for the next five months without a job. Hence forth, I quit my job at F.Ménard.Inc, Agromex division at Ange Gardien and went back to school.

Nevertheless! You helped me get on the track in Canada. I'm grateful.

Back in school, it wasn’t easy at all. Why? I had to study in a completely different system and in a language, which is normally secondary to me. Having been used to essays in English, I had to do them now in French, do the reports and "dissertations" in French and philosophy. Coming from an English background where I spent more than 11 years, you would agree with me that’s not the easiest. Hopefully, I’m surviving till now, with no intentions of giving up. Quitting IS NOT an option.

Part 2

I wish I had known a couple of things I know now before starting the Cegep. In Cameroon, we have what we call "the syllabus", which is a sort of outline of what is being taught in a given programme. I saw a similar Program in LaSalle College in Montreal, where I desired to study before moving to Granby.

But to my greatest surprise, I didn’t see that in Cegep of Granby. They have a program outline, but I it doesn’t give details about what specific subjects and topics will be taught in a programme. Naming the courses isn’t enough, supplying details about each course is better. If students could know which novels and text books will be used in a specific programme, reading them in advance will be a better preparation. Instead of coming here and being pressurised because of the work load. Don’t you think it’s one of the reasons that account for the high drop-out rate? The young students are surprised, they can’t cope with the pressure. The industries are offering attractive salaries, without requesting high qualifications. So, what’s the easy way out? Quitting!

Part 3

This question is not easy because it requires quite some knowledge about the specific characteristics of the various car trademarks or car producers. That’s not my case but let me try from the little knowledge I have of some. I don’t have a Toyota, but I know they’re reputed for their resilience or resistance. Most developing countries like them. Hope you’ve guessed why, the roads!, the roads! …. So, if my personality was to be likened to a car, then I would have been a Toyota. I believe quitting is not an option, the same way settling for lower standards is not an option. Thus, no matter how challenging and tough life may be, I keep pushing forward. “You never fail until you stop trying,” says Albert Einstein.

Part 4

I pasted the previous quote in Google to remember whom that was from. Then I pressed “Videos” and discovered Evan Carmichael compiled a nice video on the same subject with virtually the same name as the quote.

What an awesome coincidence! It’s about Virgil Abloh’s top 10 rules of success. He’s a renowned fashion designer in Chicago, though from Ghana and here is his top 10 rules of success;

1. Prove Yourself

2. Thrive off a “No!”

3. Just Do it

4. Disrupt the status Quo

5. Craft your own path

6. Don’t chase perfectionism

7. Have mentors

8. Be critical

9. Define the world

10. Think Ahead

Most of them resonate with me, especially the first one. Virgil says: “Don’t just go to where you think you want to work and say you want to work there, do something they see value in so that the conversation is shorter.” This is 100% true because that is literally what I had to do in order to get a 14-week paid internship last summer holidays at VIF Plastics in Saint-Hyacinthe. I had to do the same thing during the internship to maintain it and finally keep doing it till the end so that the company feels my presence there has been worthy. So, you’re highly encouraged watching it and getting the insights.

LES INDUSTRIES DE MOULES ET PLASTIQUES VIF LTÉE

Thanks.