From Deferred Dreams: My Journey to the Chevening Scholarship

I was not born into privilege or abundance. Like many young people in Malawi at the time, my dreams of higher education were shaped by ambition but most often limited by circumstance.

After finishing high school, I did not immediately make it into university, not because I lacked the desire or ability, but because opportunities were scarce. Malawi then had only one public university, and competition was intense. For many of us, that single bottleneck quietly redirected our futures.

But I refused to let that be the end of my story. Instead, I took a different path, one that began with a certificate in Journalism and led me into the newsroom. Working with the biggest print media house in Malawi, then, Blantyre Newspapers Limited (now Times Group), I quickly rose through the ranks, and between 1999 and 2004, I was the Chief Reporter for their weekend edition, the Malawi News.

Journalism became both my profession and my classroom. It sharpened my voice, exposed me to national issues, and taught me resilience. In 2003, I received a life-changing opportunity: a Diploma in International Journalism from the University of Cardiff in the United Kingdom through the Thomson Foundation.

That trip and my stay in Cardiff, UK, planted a seed. For the first time, I saw the world beyond my immediate limitations. I realized that my delayed entry into higher education did not mean I was too late; it simply meant my journey would take a different route. I returned home with renewed determination.

Years passed as I built my career in journalism, but the desire for further education never left me. In 2008, after nearly a decade of professional work and now newly married, I made a bold decision to go back to school to pursue my first degree through a private university.

Educational Background

It was not easy. Tuition for my Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication was expensive, and life responsibilities were growing. I had to carefully stretch my modest income, making sacrifices to stay enrolled. There were moments of doubt, but I persisted. In 2012, I graduated with a credit, an achievement that meant far more to me than the classification itself. It represented endurance.

I did not stop there. Driven by a hunger for further growth, I pursued a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations, graduating in 2017. However, shortly after, the university faced challenges with the Council for Higher Education in Malawi, casting uncertainty over the credibility of our qualifications. The Council eventually revoked accreditation. Although our certificates were cleared, the experience led me into struggles to fully embrace a qualification that had once been in dispute.

Throughout these years, I had one goal in mind: a scholarship to do another ‘authentic” master’s degree, and my focus was on the prestigious Chevening Scholarships. I believed it truly represented academic excellence.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarships?

My attempts, however, were met with repeated disappointment. In 2014, I applied and was not shortlisted. Came 2015 round, I reached the interview stage but did not make it further. In 2016, I tried again and failed at the interview stage. After these three attempts, I gave up.

By then, I had transitioned from journalism into public relations and was working for a water utility company. In 2019, I left my job under controversial circumstances, finding myself at home, uncertain about the future.

It was in that moment of uncertainty that I made one more decision that would change my life. I applied for Chevening again, and this, unknown to me though, was the time. I was successful and secured a place at the University of South Wales in the UK to study for a Master’s degree in Public Relations. To me, it was a moment of validation for both my academic ability and years of persistence, rejection, and determination.

How Is (was) Your Experience at the University of South Wales?

However, the journey to the UK was far from typical. I traveled to the UK at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience was isolating and with a lot of uncertainties. The usual excitement of international study was replaced by caution, restrictions, and fear. I then made a personal decision, and my goal was simple: complete my studies successfully and return home safely.

I stayed focused. While other scholars before us spoke of travel and cultural experiences, our cohort had none of it. When life slowly began to normalize, we were already nearing the end of our program. Pushed by the COVID-19 uncertainties, I completed my Master’s degree with a distinction.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Looking back, my journey has not been linear or easy. It has been marked by delayed opportunities, financial struggles, institutional setbacks, and repeated rejection, but shaped by resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering belief that timing is everything.

If there is one lesson I would share with aspiring scholars, it is that your path does not have to look perfect or straight to lead you to success. Sometimes, doors will not open when you expect them to; sometimes, you will have to knock more than once, and sometimes, you will have to walk away, regroup, and return stronger.

I am living proof that persistence and patience matter.