From a Small Dream in Goma to a Research Journey in Japan

If you had met me a few years ago in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, you would probably have seen an ordinary young woman with an extraordinary dream.

Since childhood, I had been fascinated by Asia, especially Japan. While many people around me saw it as a distant country they would only ever see on television, I imagined myself one day living and building a life there. At the time, it felt almost impossible.

I studied Computer Science and began my professional career through various roles in software development, administration, human resources, and later customer experience in the banking sector. These experiences taught me how to work with people, solve problems, and adapt to different environments.

But the road was not easy.

Like many young Africans seeking international opportunities, I spent years searching for opportunities and educational programs abroad. I experienced rejection, uncertainty, and disappointment. One of the hardest moments came when I discovered that a scholarship opportunity I had invested hope in was actually a scam.

For a while, it felt as though every door was closing.

At the same time, life in my hometown became increasingly difficult due to insecurity and armed conflict. Many days were filled with uncertainty about what the future would look like.

Yet I continued moving forward.

I taught myself English, searched for opportunities, improved my technical skills, and kept applying even when success seemed unlikely. Looking back, I realize that persistence often matters more than talent.

Eventually, that persistence led me to receive the Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship after apply through the embassy of Japan in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Today, I am a Junior Researcher at Yokohama National University, conducting research in Motion Control, Haptics, and Intelligent Systems. Every day, I walk through university laboratories that once existed only in my imagination.

The journey from Goma to Japan was not built in a single year. It was built through thousands of small decisions: choosing not to quit after rejection, choosing to keep learning, choosing to believe that my circumstances did not define my future.

I still consider myself at the beginning of my journey. There is so much left to learn, discover, and contribute. But whenever I face a challenge, I remember the young girl in Goma who dreamed about Japan long before she had any reason to believe it could become reality.

And somehow, against all odds, it did.