Being a first-generation immigrant, I seek to invest in myself through college. Being a part of one of the 30 kids in the village at Dwenese, Ghana upon my completion of college I seek to help kids understand the importance of a college education. In the African American community, it's not common for people like me to hold a college degree. We are often stereotyped as unsuccessful, criminals, unambitious, and so on. Like other African Americans across America, I want to be one of the few who break the stereotypes of black people not being capable of receiving a college degree. The odds are against us, but we have to learn to fight against them. Looking beyond the next four years of my college career, completing college and earning a college degree would help me succeed in life and enable me to achieve my dream profession. College is a footstep closer to earning the qualifications to attend law school. I seek to practice immigration law, coming from an immigrant background, I seek to help those who look like me. Attending New York University will be a step closer for me to make this goal possible. In short, in life, everything has its reasons and motivations. In my case, my reasons and motivations for earning a college degree are to be able to achieve my dreams, put pride in my family, be a good image for those around me, and make a change in this corrupted world.

When I thought of “home”, I thought of captivity and limitations. I spent much of my adolescence trying to escape “home” because of the responsibilities of the older African daughter imposed on me. A typical Sunday afternoon included scraping the rigid burnt bottoms of our cooking pans. And so, I found refuge in my twin-size mattress and the journal that awaited me. This is my escape from rewriting the piercing comments that echo in my head. Like a broken record stuck on repeat, I spent hours of the night, in solitude, writing these letters to my parents knowing they would never read them. Once I finish writing this journal entry, it will be hidden in my shoebox. Since my family migrated from Ghana to the U.S., the “American Dream” which one would assume consists of dollars and dreams consists of 15-hour work shifts and contention. This reality molded a new fixed image of what success looks like for me, their not average African daughter. I began to understand the role I play as an older sibling and the impact it can have on my younger siblings. Although cultural norms have led me to lead with shyness, fear, and the opposite of who I am, each page written in my journal has shown me to embrace my own experiences in knowing that I can question traditions and choose my path forward in life. Aside from the refuge I took in journaling, I also spent hours during after-school hours to further my interest and understanding of the world around me. Seeking more information on the different literature read from class from authors like Kwame Appiah and Plato: two prestigious philosophers with ideas of identity and preconceptions that we are born into. As soon as the loud announcement was made around 7:00 p.m. stating that the building was closing, the four hours that had flown by automatically felt like four minutes. When I safely arrived home, I tried to shield myself from the noise that was amplified amid my apartment. I began to realize I was born into a cave. The same cave that Plato derived from his knowledge of the construction of societal norms. A cave constructed by cultural norms and ethnocentric values that are held in the view of my Ghanaian culture. I began to question my traditions by maneuvering within the experiences I was gathering. Amid the cave, I discovered my inner light through peer group connections. I have come to view 'home' not as a place with limitations, and constraints but rather as a realm for personal development and self-discovery. Through my journal and my exploration of literature, I have come to understand that I can challenge traditions and choose my path in life. Emerging from the confines of cultural norms and narrow perspectives, I am no longer the label of "an average African daughter". I strive to be a beacon of inspiration and strength for my younger siblings and future generations. I appreciate the value of my distinct experiences, openly express my opinions, and actively work towards creating positive transformations. The cave I was born into has been transformed by my journey into an open opportunity to break free from the limited perceptions that culture binds us to. I have discovered my voice amidst the struggle for cultural acceptance.

The month of July was previously known as the time away from school and time for relaxation. A month that was usually spent in my room. But, this time around I was in the eastern region of Ghana. In a small village called Dwenase. Dwenase was the childhood home of my father and his parents. The village did not consist of many buildings and shops that you would usually see in areas like Accra and Kumasi. It was quite the total opposite. A few hours later, I stepped into the school park. To my left brown benches are rounded in a circle. To my right, is a statue of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. Standing in that same classroom and envisioning the circumstances he had to teach in was highly astonishing. The vibrant royal blue uniform that made them look in unison gave me flashbacks to sitting in their place just about 5 years ago. With just 3 desks and over 30 children in the room. We came to the village to donate books that me and my sister collected for months but it seemed as if more was needed. Staring face to face with these students I saw myself. Just a few years before this encounter I was a student in Ghana. Spending my formative years back home, I came to the United States at the age of 8. This transition was a complete cultural shock because being able to speak two languages wasn't enough to communicate in my new environment. I say all this to say, that my village and ancestry are what push me to my fullest potential. It is why I pride myself on succeeding in school. Being a first-generation immigrant, I seek to invest in myself through college. Being a part of one of the 30 kids in Dwenese, Ghana upon my completion of college I seek to help kids understand the importance of a college education. Like other African Americans across America, I want to be one of the few who break the stereotypes of black people not being capable of receiving a college degree. The odds are against us, but we have to learn to fight against them. Looking beyond the next four years of my college career, completing college and earning a college degree would help me succeed in life and enable me to achieve my dream profession. College is a footstep closer to earning the qualifications to attend law school. I seek to practice immigration law, coming from an immigrant background, I seek to help those who look like me. Being a first-generation immigrant daughter in a working class, this scholarship will greatly help cut down my cost of attending New York University. In my case, my reasons and motivations for earning a college degree are to be able to achieve my dreams, put pride in my family, be a good image for those around me, and make a change in this corrupted world.

When I thought of “home”, I thought of captivity and limitations. I spent much of my adolescence trying to escape “home” because of the responsibilities of the older African daughter imposed on me. A typical Sunday afternoon included scraping the rigid burnt bottoms of our cooking pans. And so, I found refuge in my twin-size mattress and the journal that awaited me. This is my escape from rewriting the piercing comments that echo in my head. Like a broken record stuck on repeat, I spent hours of the night, in solitude, writing these letters to my parents knowing they would never read them. Once I finish writing this journal entry, it will be hidden in my shoebox. Since my family migrated from Ghana to the U.S., the “American Dream” which one would assume consists of dollars and dreams consists of 15-hour work shifts and contention. This reality molded a new fixed image of what success looks like for me, their not average African daughter. I began to understand the role I play as an older sibling and the impact it can have on my younger siblings. Although cultural norms have led me to lead with shyness, fear, and the opposite of who I am, each page written in my journal has shown me to embrace my own experiences in knowing that I can question traditions and choose my path forward in life. Aside from the refuge I took in journaling, I also spent hours during after-school hours to further my interest and understanding of the world around me. Seeking more information on the different literature read from class from authors like Kwame Appiah and Plato: two prestigious philosophers with ideas of identity and preconceptions that we are born into. As soon as the loud announcement was made around 7:00 p.m. stating that the building was closing, the four hours that had flown by automatically felt like four minutes. When I safely arrived home, I tried to shield myself from the noise that was amplified amid my apartment. I began to realize I was born into a cave. The same cave that Plato derived from his knowledge of the construction of societal norms. A cave constructed by cultural norms and ethnocentric values that are held in the view of my Ghanaian culture. I began to question my traditions by maneuvering within the experiences I was gathering. Amid the cave, I discovered my inner light through peer group connections. I have come to view 'home' not as a place with limitations, and constraints but rather as a realm for personal development and self-discovery. Through my journal and my exploration of literature, I have come to understand that I can challenge traditions and choose my path in life. Emerging from the confines of cultural norms and narrow perspectives, I am no longer the label of "an average African daughter". I strive to be a beacon of inspiration and strength for my younger siblings and future generations. I appreciate the value of my distinct experiences, openly express my opinions, and actively work towards creating positive transformations. The cave I was born into has been transformed by my journey into an open opportunity to break free from the limited perceptions that culture binds us to. I have discovered my voice amidst the struggle for cultural acceptance

The month of July was previously known as the time away from school and time for relaxation. A month that was usually spent in my room. But, this time around I was in the eastern region of Ghana. In a small village called Dwenase. Dwenase was the childhood home of my father and his parents. The village did not consist of many buildings and shops that you would usually see in areas like Accra and Kumasi. It was quite the total opposite. You saw a community that came together. About a 7-hour drive that was compact to only 4 hours. Stepping out of the car to the red sand that collected on my sandals, the old family houses miles apart from each other, and the scorching radiance from the sun. The variety of homes told many stories from different events from my father's childhood to adulthood. A place closer to home for him was the only school located in that village. A few hours later, I stepped into the school park. To my left brown benches are rounded in a circle. To my right, is a statue of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. Standing in that same classroom and envisioning the circumstances he had to teach in was highly astonishing. The vibrant royal blue uniform that made them look in unison gave me flashbacks to sitting in their place just about 5 years ago. With just 3 desks and over 30 children in the room. The desk resembled more of a park bench than it did a school desk. We came to the village to donate books that me and my sister collected for months but it seemed as if more was needed. Staring face to face with these students I saw myself. Just a few years before this encounter I was a student in Ghana. Spending my formative years back home, I came to the United States at the age of 8. This transition was a complete cultural shock because being able to speak two languages wasn't enough to communicate in my new environment. After this encounter, I took literacy with a new approach. Literacy being a huge part of academia, formed a new definition of success for me. I say all this to say, that my village and ancestry are what push me to my fullest potential. It is why I pride myself on succeeding in school. Being a first-generation immigrant, I seek to invest in myself through college. Being a part of one of the 30 kids in Dwenese, Ghana upon my completion of college I seek to help kids understand the importance of a college education. In the African American community, it's not common for people like me to hold a college degree. We are often stereotyped as unsuccessful, criminals, unambitious, and so on. Like other African Americans across America, I want to be one of the few who break the stereotypes of black people not being capable of receiving a college degree. The odds are against us, but we have to learn to fight against them. Being a first-generation immigrant daughter in a working class, this scholarship will greatly help cut down my cost of attending New York University. This scholarship will help me pay for my books, supplies, and meal plans needed to succeed on campus. In my case, my reasons and motivations for earning a college degree are to be able to achieve my dreams, put pride in my family, be a good image for those around me, and make a change in this corrupted world.