“Where you come from does not determine who you will be, but where you choose to be is who you will become." — Lydia Kai Adjetey These North Star words have been my guiding light, motivating me through my journey from a small town in Ghana called Beijing, to becoming an advocate and storyteller in the U.S. My name is Lydia Kai Adjetey, and I am a first-generation graduating undergraduate student from Ghana, studying Journalism at Stockton University. Coming from a low-income family, raised by a single mother, and as the last born of four girls, life has not been easy for my family. I only got the privilege of education due to a decision made by my grandfather, and that selfless decision was my gateway to access a tool as powerful as education. My grandfather, in exchange for a lifetime of education for the family lineage, gave his land to a man to build his school instead of receiving money. This was how I got free education from Kindergarten till Junior High School. I was able to continue to high school because the recent past president of Ghana ran a free education program at the time, and I benefited from that program, as my mother could not afford that. Four years ago, at the age of 19, I was a farmer and a teacher in a village called Ada in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. I saw my high schoolmates proceed to university, and I had to teach and farm to make ends meet. I saw my mother and my sisters on the farm with me, and seeing my mother work so hard often broke my heart and made me lose hope that I could ever even achieve anything in my life as my mother was here with me. But then one day, all of this changed, because I chose to dream and cause it to happen. Asa voiceover artist, I worked with blogger Kobby Kyei to amplify rural stories. I interviewed village chiefs, translated their narratives, and highlighted communities needing food, water, and shelter. That experience showed me how media can drive change. At Stockton, I’ve maintained a 3.90 GPA while working two jobs per semester. I became the first student to serve as a Resident Assistant directly from Ghana, mentoring 100+ students and promoting diversity and inclusion. I founded Stockton’s first Entrepreneurship Club and led “Success Pitch 2024,” a Shark Tank-style event that raised $850 and united students with local entrepreneurs. I also served as a Global Engagement Mentor for international students and interned at the Holocaust Resource Center, educating visitors on survivor stories. As a fellow with the South Jersey Information Equity Project, I interview community members and dignitaries such as County Executive Dennis Levinson and Mayor Marty Small Sr., publishing through Atlantic City Focus. My reporting work has taught me how to engage deeply and empathetically with community stories. I have been admitted to top journalism graduate programs, including Northwestern University, Syracuse, Boston University, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism among others, which offered me the most funding—yet I still face a $19,200 tuition gap, not including housing. This scholarship would help me take the next step in my journey. At Craig Newmark, I’ll pursue investigative and broadcast journalism. My long-term dream is to return to Ghana and build the world’s largest media house—complete with radio and TV stations, a training institute, podcast studios, youth centers, and more. I call myself “abnormal” because I don’t settle for less. I question systems, challenge injustices, and dream beyond limitations. Thank you for considering my application.