Being Tchitaka

The Journey of Resilience, Faith, and Purpose

Rodrigue Tchitaka

Published by Rodrigue Tchitaka

2025

"Resilience is not about never falling; it’s about rising every time

you do ."

Copyright © 2025 by Rodrigue Tchitaka

Being Tchitaka Copyright © 2025 by Rodrigue Tchitaka All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author at the contact information below.

Published by: Rodrigue Tchitaka

ISBN: 979-8-218-99157-9

Cover Design: Rodrigue Tchitaka

Editing: Rodrigue Tchitaka

This book is a memoir and reflects the author’s personal experiences, thoughts, and interpretations. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, certain names, places, and events may have been changed to respect privacy and confidentiality. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

First Edition: 2024

For inquiries, please contact:

contact@beingtchitaka.com

www.beingtchitaka.com

Table of Contents

Faith, Resilience, and the Courage to Reinvent. ............................................ 8

Introduction ............................................................................................. 8

Chapter 1: My Roots ................................................................................ 10

From Student to Teacher ......................................................................... 10

Midweek Services and Christian Feasts .................................................... 11

Faith in Action ....................................................................................... 12

A Tale of Two Cities ............................................................................... 12

Lessons for a Lifetime ............................................................................. 14

Chapter 2: First Challenges ...................................................................... 15

The Struggle with Self-Doubt .................................................................. 15

The Weight of Responsibility ................................................................... 16

Family Struggles and Financial Hardship .................................................. 18

The Death of My Father: A Defining Moment ........................................... 19

Supporting My Siblings: A Responsibility Beyond Myself ......................... 19

The Role of Mentorship and Community Support ...................................... 20

The Importance of Hope and Vision for the Future .................................... 20

The Influence of Bible Stories and Parables .............................................. 21

The Power of Prayer and Spiritual Practices .............................................. 21

Conclusion: Growth Through Adversity .................................................... 22

Part 2: The Oil & Gas Journey ................................................................. 22

Chapter 3: Choosing a Career Path .......................................................... 23

Discovering Engineering as My Calling .................................................... 23

Academic Pursuits: From Cameroon to Tunisia ......................................... 23

Internships: A Glimpse into the Oil & Gas Industry ................................... 25

Facing Reality: A Career Unpursued ........................................................ 26

Lessons Learned Beyond Engineering ...................................................... 26

The Start of a New Chapter ...................................................................... 28

Chapter 4: Realizing a Need for Change ................................................... 29

Breaking Barriers: The Challenge of Entering the Oil & Gas Industry 29

Strong Connections Over Merit ................................................................ 29

Oversaturation of Graduates .................................................................... 29

The Geographical Divide ......................................................................... 30

Lessons Learned ..................................................................................... 30

The Emotional Weight of Waiting ............................................................ 31

Professional Frustration ........................................................................... 31

Personal Doubt ....................................................................................... 31

Watching Others Succeed ........................................................................ 32

Dissatisfaction in the Industry .................................................................. 32

Ethical Dilemmas ................................................................................... 32

A Shifting Global Landscape ................................................................... 33

Personal Fulfillment ................................................................................ 33

Lessons from the Waiting Period .............................................................. 34

A Time for Reflection ............................................................................. 34

Reassessing Goals ................................................................................... 34

Growth Through Adversity ...................................................................... 34

The Turning Point ................................................................................... 34

Work-Life Imbalance .............................................................................. 35

Volatile Market ...................................................................................... 35

Balancing Aspirations with Realities ........................................................ 36

Moving to the USA: A New Chapter ........................................................ 37

Reevaluating My Passion ........................................................................ 38

Exploring New Horizons ......................................................................... 38

Redefining My Goals .............................................................................. 39

A New Beginning ................................................................................... 39

Deciding to Pivot: The Internal Struggle ................................................... 40

The Fear of Starting Over ........................................................................ 40

Recognizing Transferable Skills ............................................................... 40

Redefining Success ................................................................................. 41

Examples of the Turning Point ................................................................. 41

The Emotional Process of Letting Go ....................................................... 42

Turning Fear into Opportunity ................................................................. 42

The First Step Toward Technology ........................................................... 42

A Humble Beginning .............................................................................. 43

Igniting a Passion ................................................................................... 43

Overcoming Initial Challenges ................................................................. 43

Redefining My Trajectory ....................................................................... 44

The Journey Ahead ................................................................................. 45

Part 3: Overcoming Obstacles .................................................................. 45

Chapter 5: Navigating the Unknown ......................................................... 46

The Decision to Leave Stability Behind .................................................... 47

Revealing True Colors ............................................................................ 47

Personal Challenges: A Series of Crushing Blows ...................................... 47

1. The Loss of My Car ....................................................................... 47

2. Betrayal in My Relationship ........................................................... 48

3. Financial Ruin ............................................................................... 48

Lessons Learned from the Hardest Times .................................................. 48

Emotional Obstacles: Wrestling with Doubt and Despair ..................... 49

Feeling Abandoned ................................................................................. 50

Self-Doubt ............................................................................................. 50

Clinging to Faith ..................................................................................... 51

Finding Strength Through the Storm ......................................................... 51

Practical Challenges: Starting Over with Nothing ................................ 51

1. Learning New Skills ....................................................................... 52

2. No Financial Safety Net .................................................................. 52

3. Breaking into a New Network ........................................................ 52

Moments of Self-Discovery .................................................................. 53

1. Understanding My Strength ........................................................... 53

2. The Power of Starting Over ........................................................... 53

3. Finding Gratitude Amid Challenges ............................................... 53

Quotes That Kept Me Going .................................................................... 54

Conclusion ........................................................................................... 54

Chapter 6: The Role of Self-Challenge ...................................................... 55

The Importance of Setting Personal Growth Goals ..................................... 55

1. From Surviving to Thriving ........................................................... 56

2. The Power of Vision ....................................................................... 56

Tools, Habits, and Mindsets That Helped Me Persevere ............................. 56

1. Daily Journaling ............................................................................ 57

2. Building Consistency ...................................................................... 57

3. Adopting a Growth Mindset ........................................................... 57

4. Leveraging Technology and Resources ........................................... 58

5. Seeking Mentors and Role Models ................................................. 58

Overcoming Emotional Hurdles Through Self-Challenge ........................... 58

The Blessing of a Unique Journey ............................................................ 59

Examples of Growth Through Self-Challenge ........................................... 59

Conclusion ............................................................................................. 59

Part 4: Reinventing Yourself – The Shift to Tech ....................................... 60

Chapter 7: A New Beginning .................................................................... 61

Breaking into Tech: Learning New Skills .................................................. 61

1. Starting From Scratch ................................................................... 62

2. Pursuing Certifications .................................................................. 62

3. Building a Portfolio ........................................................................ 63

The Power of Networking ........................................................................ 63

1. Leveraging LinkedIn ..................................................................... 63

2. Joining Communities ..................................................................... 64

3. Finding Mentors ............................................................................ 64

Seizing Opportunities .............................................................................. 64

1. Applying for Roles Relentlessly ...................................................... 64

2. Leveraging Transferable Skills ...................................................... 65

Comparing the Oil and Gas Industry with Tech ......................................... 65

1. Culture and Flexibility ................................................................ 65

2. Learning Curve and Adaptability .............................................. 66

3. Job Opportunities ....................................................................... 66

Lessons Learned from the Shift ................................................................ 67

1. It’s Never Too Late to Start Over ............................................... 67

2. Every Skill is Transferable ......................................................... 67

3. Blessings in Disguise ................................................................ 67

Conclusion ............................................................................................. 68

Chapter 8: Finding Purpose in Tech ......................................................... 69

How Tech Aligns with My Personal Values .............................................. 69

1. Empowering Others ....................................................................... 70

2. Continuous Learning and Growth .................................................. 70

3. Creativity and Innovation .............................................................. 71

A Field Aligned with Purpose .................................................................. 71

Global Reach and Inclusivity ................................................................... 72

Example: A Global Network of Innovation ............................................ 72

Lessons Learned from Building a New Career from Scratch ....................... 72

1. The Power of Starting Over ........................................................... 72

2. Resilience is a Superpower ............................................................. 73

3. Celebrate Small Wins .................................................................... 73

A Path of Growth and Discovery .......................................................... 74

4. Community is Everything .......................................................... 74

5. Trust the Process ....................................................................... 75

Purpose Found Through Challenges ......................................................... 75

Example of Fulfillment: The Joy of Giving Back ................................... 75

Conclusion ............................................................................................. 76

Part 5: Empowerment Through Faith and Growth ...................................... 76

Chapter 9: The Intersection of Faith and Ambition ................................... 77

Faith as My Compass .............................................................................. 77

1. Guidance Through Scripture ......................................................... 78

2. A Faith-Based Perspective on Challenges ....................................... 78

Balancing Spiritual Values with Professional Growth ................................. 79

1. Integrity in All Things .................................................................... 79

2. Serving Others Through Work ...................................................... 79

3. Humility in Ambition ..................................................................... 79

The Light That Guides ............................................................................ 80

How Faith Inspires Resilience .................................................................. 80

1. Overcoming Doubt Through Prayer ............................................... 80

2. Turning Failures into Lessons ........................................................ 81

3. Finding Strength in God’s Promises ............................................... 81

4. Transforming Adversity into Purpose ............................................ 82

A Journey of Resilience and Faith ............................................................ 82

A Life Without Fear of Failure ................................................................. 82

Conclusion ............................................................................................. 83

Chapter 10: Lessons for the Reader .......................................................... 84

1. The Power of Self-Belief ..................................................................... 84

2. Resilience is Built Through Challenges ................................................. 85

3. Embrace Change as a Catalyst for Growth ............................................. 86

Expanding Insights ................................................................................. 86

4. Build a Supportive Network ................................................................. 87

5. Align Your Goals