Where are you from? I am originally from Ghana; I am a native of Moree, a small fishing community in Ghana.
Why did you choose Kirkwood? I first came to Kirkwood as an exchange student during the 2019/2020 school year. The exchange program’s name is Community College Initiative program. I studied Hospitality Management then and earned a diploma with a GPA of 3.98. Thanks to the quality of education and memorable experiences from Kirkwood, I decided to return to Kirkwood to earn an associate degree.
What is your major and how did you choose it? I’m majoring in Hotel Management now and I chose it because I already have a diploma in the same program and want to earn an associate degree.
What has been your proudest moment at Kirkwood? Being named a nominee for the All-USA Academic Team Scholarship, Coca Cola Academic Scholarship has been a thrilling moment for me. I also felt very proud when I was given the opportunity to showcase my country during the international education week.
What are your plans after Kirkwood? I plan to transfer to Iowa State University to earn a bachelors degree in Hotel/Restaurant/Administration/Management.
What inspires or motivates you? My family background motivates me a lot. I am a first-generation female to obtain formal education and the first person on a career pathway that is different from the fish mongering like most female in my family. Knowing that I can use my education as a tool to be a change and to encourage the narratives in my family for the next generation in my family intrinsically motivates me.
Tell us about who you are outside of Kirkwood. My go to activities outside school are volunteering, watching movies and listening to music. I also love to crochet and cook.
What does being named an Outstanding Student mean to you? It brings an unprecedented joy to my heart, and it tells me that with hard work and perseverance, the world will get to recognize the spice I bring.
Is there anything else you’d like to add? I want to let the world know that just as gold cannot make its way to beautiful glow without passing through the fire; hard work, perseverance and resilience is that fire that polishes us to a beautiful glow as humans. Without them, what we dream of doesn’t feel special after we get them, so whenever we get stuck at something or feel we cannot continue, we should take a break and not take a quit.
Categories: Outstanding Students
