A different journey: From rejection to resilience | Linda Djougang | TEDxTrinityCollegeDublin

The speaker shares her inspiring journey from Cameroon to becoming a professional rugby player for Ireland, highlighting the pivotal role of her mother's dream and her own unwavering determination. Her journey began at the age of nine when her mother sent her to Ireland for better opportunities, a decision driven by a vision for her daughter that the young girl couldn't yet comprehend. Upon arriving, she faced the significant challenges of cultural and linguistic adaptation, moving in with her father and his family. Her early years in Ireland were dedicated to learning English, starting from third class in primary school and continuing through secondary school. During this period of adaptation, she actively sought a sense of belonging and found solace and self-discovery within the school environment. This led her to pursue the Trinity Access Program in her first year of secondary school, though she was initially unaware of its purpose. Despite her efforts, she didn't achieve the necessary points for university through the Leaving Certificate and CAO system in Ireland. This setback, coupled with the realization that her usual support system at school would no longer be available, prompted a moment of uncertainty about her next steps. Reaching out to a friend, she learned about a pre-nursing course, which sparked her interest. However, applying required a €10 deposit, a sum she didn't possess. Undeterred, she decided to go to the bank, but before she could, she received a letter stating she hadn't been accepted into the Trinity Access Program, causing significant disappointment. She then embarked on a persistent campaign, calling the program daily to inquire if anyone had dropped out. This relentless pursuit, making calls at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm every day for a week, demonstrated her deep-seated commitment. Her determination finally paid off when, on a Friday, while at the bank with her friend and still facing difficulties opening an account due to the need for immediate access, she received a call from Trinity. Someone had indeed dropped out, and she was offered a place. Overjoyed and almost disbelieving, she accepted the offer multiple times to ensure it was real. The first day of the Trinity Access Program was marked by her extreme eagerness. She arrived at 9 am for a 2 pm induction, a testament to her fear of missing out. She sat with the security guard until half past one, still grappling with the reality of her acceptance. The passing around of a sheet with names and stickers to confirm eligibility was a crucial moment; receiving her name solidified her place and became a symbol of her arduous journey. Within the Trinity Access Program, she pursued nursing, which became the true starting point of her professional path. She secured a place in the Grand Touring sponsorship program, which supported four students out of twenty-five nationwide, and also earned an internship. During this time, she found it challenging to integrate with her colleagues. An opportunity arose to join a social tag rugby team, which she eagerly accepted, even though she had no prior experience with the sport. Her introduction to rugby was unconventional. She joined the team with no knowledge of the game, not even having touched a rugby ball before. Despite her initial bewilderment about the rules and scoring, her willingness to try was evident. She spent the day googling rugby and its intricacies. During a match, she received a yellow card for being offside multiple times, but her journey in rugby truly began when a teammate passed her the ball and encouraged her to run the entire pitch, leading to her first try. This experience led to her being recruited by Leinster, and she continued to play rugby while studying general nursing at Tala Hospital. The dual pursuit of nursing and rugby proved incredibly demanding. In her second year of nursing, she struggled to balance both commitments and ultimately failed, unable to manage the workload. This led to a difficult decision: she chose to dedicate herself fully to rugby. In 2019, she earned her first cap for Ireland and, remarkably, graduated with her nursing degree in the same year. However, her graduation coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she began her nursing career caring for patients during a challenging time, questioning who was caring for her. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasizes that the dream she holds today, a dream far beyond her initial expectations, originated from her mother's vision when she was just nine years old. She acknowledges that she didn't achieve this alone, crediting mentors, teachers, and most importantly, her own resilience and willingness to persevere through obstacles. She concludes by passing on this spirit, urging others to embrace their own journeys, find their sources of hope, and support others by passing on the "baton."