My baggage to and from Oxford – Olivia Tienin
We asked our scholars to go back to the moment they packed their luggage in preparation for their journey to Oxford. But instead of clothes and books, we asked them to think about the stories, people, memories, hopes, and all immaterial things that they would put inside. We also wanted to know what they would probably like to add to their baggage when leaving Oxford. Find other stories in this series here.
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'what are you doing for others?'" Dr Martin Luther King Jr
My baggage to Oxford was filled with extreme gratitude, shock, joy, hope, courage, but also with radical questions that paralleled Dr King Jr's words:
1) "What am I going to do for others?"
2) "What am I going to do for other Burkinabè?"
3) How can I leverage this exciting, unique, and life-changing experience for the greater good?
As I reflected on these questions, I realized my journey to Oxford was timely, because I was at a point in life where I could no longer bear the weight of question #2 particularly. It was still surreal to revisualize that less than ten years ago, I lived in one of the most peaceful nations on earth. Today, this reality has quickly shifted without fair warning. While packing my luggage, I could not stop pondering how the place I call home turned so soon from a stable state to a nation on the verge of collapse due to armed conflict. At that moment, I desired more than ever to find coherent answers to my conjectures. Most importantly, I longed to find solutions I could fully be part of.
I felt hopeful embarking on a journey where I could critically reflect on Burkina's situation and learn from a diverse group of people living in countries experiencing similar challenges or perhaps recovering from similar issues. I trusted I would find answers within Oxford's resourceful environment. A few months later, I find myself sitting at my study desk, realizing this time that my hopes are slowly but surely becoming a reality. As I unpack my luggage full of complex questions, I notice how much I grow and learn every single day. I am meeting and working with great and compassionate minds who are helping me thoroughly dissect some of the many challenges Burkina faces. We also share the beauty, resilience, and tenacity our people exhibit even in the face of adversity. I feel so humbled and grateful to be able to fill my baggage with the unique stories and experiences shared with me, and most importantly, with radical and impactful answers to make my country more peaceful for generations to come.
