I am Doriane Présilia Soutongnoma, daughter of Ouedraogo, and a proud Mossi from the Land of Upright Men. Almost two months ago, I left Burkina Faso to embark on my "Study in India" experience, which is slowly becoming an important part of my life journey.
Since childhood, I have always been open to new experiences. I love to learn, discover, and experiment with new things, which has helped me excel in my studies. I make it a point to organize my academic work alongside my extracurricular activities. Some of my classmates used to ask how I managed to get good grades while also participating in the dance and drama club twice a week or challenging the boys on the basketball court every afternoon.
While DIY projects are my favorite hobby, I’m always eager to try new things.
During high school, I discovered my passion for renewable energy—particularly photovoltaic panels. I’m fascinated by how they work, how they’re made, and how their efficiency can be improved. To many, this may sound unusual, but to me, it's a mystery worth understanding. This passion drives my dream of bringing innovation to Burkina Faso’s energy sector, which is why I chose to study engineering.
Now, you might be wondering how I found myself in India. It all started with a small story I submitted for a scholarship application I came across on social media. I wasn’t sure about applying until I attended an info session organized by Leading Change Africa-Burkina, which inspired me to take a chance. Today, I’m living my best life, all because I trusted this organization. I can’t thank them enough for the training and support they provided me. The months I spent with them were incredibly beneficial. I especially enjoyed the leadership academy I participated in before the university application phase. I still remember being in the entrepreneurship class last year, brainstorming with Madoussou on how to make our fictitious company even more attractive as we pasted pictures on our flipchart.
The team at Leading Change felt like family—more than just teachers, they were like older brothers and sisters to me. I vividly remember December 31st, 2023, when Mrs. Deborah was overwhelmed by our dissertations, and Mr. Sereme and Mr. Drabo were doing their best to submit our university applications before midnight. Despite the wave of non-acceptances that followed, I always had the support of the team and my parents, who encouraged me not to give up and reminded me that hard work always pays off.
Then, like a miracle, my friend Anna—whom I met through Leading Change—told me about the scholarship for Marwadi University, where I’m currently studying. Thanks to the twin scholarships I received from Leading Change and the university, my parents have almost no fees to pay for my education. I will never stop thanking God for that.
Today, I am studying in India, a beautiful country, and I love the field I’ve chosen. While adapting has taken time, I improve day by day, keeping in mind my ultimate goal: to lead change in the energy sector of my country. If I could summarize my life from 2023 until now in a few words, they would be perseverance, patience, seizing opportunities, and keeping faith. It took all of these for me to discover that Africans and Indians share similar cultures—and that neither holds back when it comes to spices!
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