Article January 1, 1999 ISSUE

Girls can succeed in physics!

Esmeralda N. Yitamben

At the end of the 10th grade, I went to see my physics teacher because I wanted to study mathematics, the “C” curriculum, which is generally only for boys because it requires a lot of mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

The teacher laughed at me. He said, “You will fall on your face.” I said to myself: “I am going to try. If God is guiding me to do this curriculum, I'll succeed. And if that's not the case, well — I'll do something else.”

At the end of the 11th grade, we have to pass an exam called probatoire that still exists in Cameroon. I got through it. My mathematics teacher asked me if I had not paid someone to help me pass the test!

I told him that I had not, and, moreover,I that I could not do that, because it was dishonest. I enjoyed doing the work myself.

During the last year of secondary school, however, I had a problem at the beginning of the year. I was making very bad marks in physics. I was afraid I would fail the final exam, the baccalauréat. My grandfather was telling me: “You are the first in the family who will achieve this degree. You have to succeed.” So I was thinking, “If I don't make it, what is he going to say?”

I was in anguish. I told myself that I had to pray, that I had to turn to God. Also, I remembered that the Bible says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30 ). These words really helped me because I worked very hard and slept very little.

When I had almost no sleep for about a month, this passage from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy did me a lot of good. It says: “Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man” (p. 393 ). From this, I realized that I was divinely endowed. God has bestowed on me — and all His children — infinite qualities of intelligence and endurance. I have the capacity to work without being overworked. The marks I would receive did not matter. At the exam, I would simply let God do His will.

When I took the exam, I wasn't afraid at anytime. Generally, during an exam, I have lots of doubts. But this time I felt confident that each word I was writing, each sentence I was citing, was correct. I didn't have to go back and correct things, because I was sure of what I was writing. I passed the baccalauréat, with honorable mention — something not easy with the “C” curriculum.

I am very, very happy to have succeeded. I thank God for all He did. His will is always the one that must be expressed. I realize now, more than ever, that I did not need to accept limitations like “No, you should not do that because you are a girl.” God allows us to do everything we need to do. And to do it well.:)

Esmeralda N. Yitamben
Douala, Cameroon

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Not at the teacher's mercy
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