In 2013, I was admitted to the University of Ghana’s Department of Information Studies, the country’s only library school at the time, for a Master’s degree. With a background in Mathematics, I had always sought a path that blended IT and analytics. I thought Information Science would offer that fusion. However, I quickly realized the program focused predominantly on Library Studies. Initially, I felt I had taken a wrong turn – again.  Years earlier, I had wanted to study Engineering but ended up reading Mathematics instead. That experience left me disillusioned and disengaged. So this time, when I again felt misplaced, I made a promise not to repeat my past mistake: I would give it my all, regardless of how things appeared at the start.

That mindset led to a successful academic season. To deepen my understanding of librarianship beyond theory, I volunteered for a year at the University of Ghana’s Balme Library. I rotated through almost all the departments, but I spent the majority of my time in Acquisitions. It was here I met Mr. Newton Akrong, whose words planted a seed that would take nearly a decade to blossom. He spoke passionately about the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Mortenson Associates Program. He even showed me pictures from his 2012 participation. I was intrigued. But at the time, I was more focused on building a career locally and, truthfully, still unsure whether librarianship was for me.

Some difficult experiences during my library school days drained my enthusiasm. That period led me to pivot into Organisation Development (OD), a field I would train and practice in under the mentorship of Noble Paq Kumawu, widely regarded as the Father of OD in Africa. It felt like a natural fit. But as fate would have it, the COVID-19 pandemic would reroute me again – this time, back to the field I had distanced myself from. That’s a story for another time, but it marked a major turning point.

In 2021, after nearly six years away from professional librarianship, I joined Accra Technical University. Under the vibrant and visionary leadership of Dr. Florence Plockey, I experienced librarianship in a whole new light – dynamic, practical, and impactful. It was unlike the rigid models I had known earlier. My curiosity was reignited, especially for the unconventional aspects of the profession that challenged tradition and explored innovation. And just like that, the Mortenson Program came up again – this time from memory.

In 2022, my friend Nasir Asiedu Koranteng sent me the application link to the Mortenson Associates Program. I applied and was admitted on my first try. It felt surreal. But life threw a curveball – I had to decline due to circumstances beyond my control. Still, the experience gave me hope. I applied again in 2023 and was once again accepted – with a scholarship. But the visa process proved to be a formidable barrier. Despite exhausting every local option, including applying for an expedited appointment and attempting to secure a date through Togo (a method that had worked for another admitted colleague, Prince Dwomoh), I was unsuccessful. The scholarship, unfortunately, was not deferrable. And just like that, I lost the opportunity for a second time.

By November 2024, when the next application cycle opened, I felt both hesitant and emotionally drained. I had already been accepted twice. Was it worth trying again? While on assignment in Nigeria, I received an unexpected email from the Mortenson Center reminding me that a new application was needed for the current year. That email was the nudge I needed. I submitted my application – this time, with tempered expectations.

On January 15, 2025, I received a response from the Center regarding the status of my application. I was waitlisted. The letter read: “You are a qualified candidate, but we are currently unable to offer you a place in the program. We have placed your name on our waitlist for the 2025 Associates Program and will contact you by February 19th if any openings become available. If you do not hear from us then, we are not able to offer you a place this year, and we hope that you will apply again in the future”. It was disappointing but not crushing. I understood the competitiveness of the program and appreciated how many others deserved their shot. Still, I clung to the slim possibility that something might change. February 19th – the final date for selection updates – came and went with no email. My heart sank. But on February 20th, just when I had started to let go, I opened my inbox to find the word I had long waited for: “Congratulations.” It was the fulfilment of a small but powerful hope I had carried all along.

This time, I wasn’t too concerned about the grant. I had faith it would come through. And it did. On February 26th, I was awarded the grant – a critical enabler for my participation. I needed it badly for several reasons:

1. To support me financially to participate in the program
2. To commit management of my institution to support other aspects of my participation, since it was easier to get their support with the grant.
3. Most importantly, it boosted my chances of obtaining a visa in an environment where funding assurance is increasingly scrutinized. I recall several people who were denied visas for similar reasons on the day of my interview.

But one final hurdle remained – a condition attached to the grant. I had just one week to secure a visa appointment – or lose the grant. This felt like déjà vu. The local consulate was fully booked, and I was told, once again, that my only option was to try another country. I returned to Togo and engaged an agent. It was expensive and emotionally draining, but it worked. I finally secured the visa date I needed.

As I write this, I’ve spent only a week in the Mortenson Associates Program – and I can already say, unequivocally, that it was worth every disappointment, delay, and dollar. The structure of the program, the warmth of the Mortenson team, the global mix of brilliant participants, and the learning opportunities are extraordinary. This experience has restored not only my passion for librarianship but my belief in what’s possible when we persist – even when doors don’t open the first or second time.

To the entire Mortenson team – Clara, Peggy, Barbara, Amani, Emily, and Vuyo – thank you. You’ve not only created an opportunity but restored a dream long deferred. This third time was indeed lucky, but more than that, it was proof of what grace looks like when met with relentless persistence.