By Aydn Parrott
“The scholarship has taken me from a high school class teacher to a university lecturer”
Augustine Samorlu, Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey scholar
Augustine Samorlu the Liberian Lecturer, completed his MSc. Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at Kadir Has University in Turkey. Augustine completed his studies on a scholarship from the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey.
“I am anticipating becoming the head of a university as well as having a well-established research organization,” says Augustine. In 20 years he hopes to have his PhD or be busy with post-doctoral work. This will give him the opportunity to lead a private or public university.
Leading a university, he believes will help him contribute to the advancement of the educational sector. He says, “ as head [of a university], I will have more implementing power as compared to my current position [as a lecturer].”
Augustine is also interested in entering the health sector of Liberia. He explains, “I am of the strongest belief that healthy people contribute to the economic growth of a nation” as such, Augustine says, “my presence at the health sector will definitely be for the people and not to enrich myself.
“The scholarship has taken me from a high school class teacher to a university lecturer,” Augustine says about the impact of the scholarship on his life. Augustine taught Biology at William V.S. Tubman Gray High School, in Bong County. He is currently at the College of Natural Sciences, Cuttington University, Bong County, teaching biological courses.
He says that “living among people of different backgrounds and beliefs was the most important unexpected benefit,” of studying on a scholarship in Turkey.
Speaking to other young Africans who may want to apply for a scholarship, Augustine says, “In life, it is always important to try, and there is nothing wrong with it. If you are successful, you will never regret it. It changes your life completely.” In his case, Augustine says that through the scholarship he was able to network and increase his leadership skills
Augustine applied because he wanted to achieve higher and quality education. He says that others should apply for a scholarship, “if ,and only if, they want to change Africa positively.”
To all young Africans, Augustine says, “Your life depends on yourself, make the maximum use of it today in the right direction.”
Aydn Parrott is a freelance writer and storyteller. He represents Africademics as a University Ambassador at Stellenbosch University. Check out his blog ‘Power of Thought’: https://powerofthoughtblog.wordpress.com/
