There is a meme doing the rounds on the internet in which a teen tells his dad: “I want to be an actor”. The father replies: “No son, it’s pronounced doctor.”
Like most parodies, this conversation is rooted in truth. Before the internet and fast travel started blurring our identities and opening up a world of new possibilities, getting A-grades and a degree in medicine, law or engineering to ensure the family’s financial stability was the standard to aspire to for many young Africans. Indeed, the pressure to follow this model is still great.