A gift of hope
By Fallon Bourgeois
From a personal tragedy that threatened her education and fulfilling her dreams, to realizing her true passion in life, Njillan Forbes has had nothing short of a transformative experience over the last five years.
When her mom – the visionary behind her pursuit of an education at Dalhousie – passed away, Njillan wasn’t sure how she would overcome the grief, let alone pay for her education. But it was a perfect stranger who gave her hope and the drive to keep going.
Now Njillan has a newly-discovered vision for her future. And it’s not surprising it involves helping others.
“When my mother died, it was hard to fathom getting to the point I am now. I lost my dream… my grief clouded everything. I’ve said it many times, the Slaight Family Foundation Scholarship for African Students was a gift of hope; it was a sign that I was still on this journey and I needed to keep going.”
And that’s exactly what she did. Now in her final year at Dal, Njillan has continued to be a dedicated student and member of the community. At the same time, she’s continued to be responsible for the school she inherited from her mom. Understandably, Njillan says running a school in The Gambia when she is in Halifax has not been without its challenges.
“One of my mother’s main purposes in creating the school was to provide an education for people who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity,” she says. “When I received my scholarship, I recognized the importance of giving back and the idea of supporting education, which the kids at the school also depend on,” she says.
Inspired to advocate
Ultimately she says the combination of the two “sparked a flame” in her.
“I’ve always had a desire for advocacy and since starting my work with the school, I’ve realized I want to work with children.”
While it’s a different direction than her education in Earth Sciences, Njillan says her time at Dal has been life changing and she sees it as her foundation.
“I have gained so many skills, both personally and academically, that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. There has been so much self-discovery. I’ve also met incredible people who have contributed to my life. And all of those things will continue to influence me as I start the next chapter. Above all I feel educated, and confident in pursuing my goals.”
While Njillan isn’t quite sure exactly what life after Dal will look like (she wants to work towards obtaining permanent residency in Canada) continuing her mother’s goal of providing meaningful education will be a top priority.
The cycle of giving
“I have a vision and that is an excellent academic school, diverse in its students, activities, and community outreach. I want to develop programs that allow the school to give back to the community, while benefitting the students.”
No matter where life takes her, Njillan knows the generosity exemplified through her scholarship will always be with her.
“I may not be where I am today had I not received my scholarship… for that I am eternally grateful. I will continue to carry this kindness with me.”