When Diana Wirndzerem was growing up, her dream was to become a school guidance counsellor. However, the Anglophone conflict severely affected her, quashing her beautiful dreams. With hopes of becoming a guidance counsellor gone, she now hopes to attend NASLA and become a local administrator.
Diana Wirndzerem, 24, a visually impaired woman, was in Form Five when the Anglophone crisis began. That academic year became challenging as she travelled from Meluf to Government Bilingual High School Kumbo in Tobin, Bui Division of the Northwest region. Consequently, she could not write her ordinary-level exams. After spending a year at home, she later wrote her Ordinary Level exams in 2018.
Double Tragedy
Before her Ordinary Level results were released, her father died. He had been shot in the leg by armed men, which led to paralysis and eventually his death. When the results were released, Diana had passed 8 out of 10 subjects. Her excitement was overshadowed by sadness because her father was not there to celebrate with her.
When the conflict escalated, leading to a shutdown of school activities in Kumbo, she moved to Baffoussam in the West region, where she later wrote her Advanced Level exams and succeeded in all four papers in 2020. Just as she hoped to continue school to pursue her guidance counselling dream, another tragedy struck.
Her relocation and schooling in Baffoussam were thanks to her sponsor, a reverend sister. However, in 2021, the reverend sister was burned to death in a house in Tobin, Kumbo.
A Promising Life Turns Miserable
Life in Baffoussam became increasingly difficult for Diana without a sponsor or school. “I like school so much. But when that happened, I was frustrated and not able to further my education,” she told MMI. “I was left on my own. My poor mother is there in the village and can’t do anything,” she added.
Despite her visual impairment, she has learned to deal with life’s challenges. Growing up with a disability, she no longer finds it too problematic. But in Kumbo, the frequent gunfire made life difficult. Following the conflict’s escalation, she moved to Baffoussam and had to adapt to the new environment.
Passes NASLA Exams with Different Hopes
Now that her dream of becoming a counsellor is no longer feasible, she wants to pursue another career. She was recently overjoyed with the release of the National School of Local Administration (NASLA) exam results, where she was among the successful candidates. Her new dream is to become a local administrator, prioritizing development.
“It has been a difficult journey,” she says. During tough times, Diana used to sing in church, at weddings, and other events, which helped her forget her sorrows and some of life’s difficulties.
