My American Dream is a glimpse of hope to see myself past my current circumstances, and to climb that ladder of faith with dedication and a future. My name is Lydia Kai Adjetey, and I am an international student from Ghana. I am currently pursuing a master's degree in journalism at CUNY-J School where I am specializing in TV News and Local Accountability Reporting. I grew up with four sisters and a single mother who worked from dawn to dusk to put food on our table. 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. 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 due to a free education program ran by the former president of Ghana. Five years ago, I was a farmer and a teacher in a village called Ada in Ghana. I taught and farmed with my mother and sisters to make ends meet. 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. But I made a decision to dream and make it happen by coming abroad to further my studies. Securing my own birth certificate, a passport and coming to America on a borrowed-plane ticket money, I have been surviving on housing, academic scholarships and assistantship positions that have made it possible for me to chase my dream. I have worked extremely hard to make it this far with hopes of driving change in the media sector in Ghana and worldwide. Because I possess the ability to create change and enact it as the practical and visionary leader that I am, I started an NGO that provides food, clean water, clothing and learning materials to children in rural communities in Ghana. My non-profit organization Love Nation, (https://www.instagram.com/official_lovenation_gh/) has raised $5,000 in the U.S. within the last two years to feed 500 children in orphanages and provided learning materials to children in seven schools in rural parts of Ghana. My dream is to build the world's biggest media house in Ghana. I would like to add that my vision of building a media house in Ghana is not just a personal goal, but a mission to create a space for innovation, and creativity storytelling to create change in society. It will include an investigative journalism firm, TV and radio stations, podcast and voiceover studios, and a media training institute offering programs in creative writing, public speaking, and film. I hope to expand the reach of ethical, community-centered journalism across Ghana and beyond. Last fall, I took a $5,000 loan to my tuition after scholarships. I am working on campus to pay back the loan and to cater for myself. However, I currently owe my institution $5,200 in tuition for this spring semester and no other resources to help me pursue my education successfully and complete this journey which I began. I am considering splitting what I earned from my campus job to pay for both the loan and this new tuition but that will not be enough. In addition, I also support my mother back home with part of my earnings. Being awarded this scholarship will help me in realizing my American Dream and most importantly, impact the lives of thousands out there.

My name is Lydia Kai Adjetey, and I am an international student from Ghana. I am currently pursuing a master's degree in journalism at CUNY-J School where I am specializing in TV News and Local Accountability Reporting. I grew up with four sisters and a single mother who worked from dawn to dusk to put food on our table. 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. In exchange for a lifetime of education for the family lineage, he 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 due to a free education program ran by the former president of Ghana. Five years ago, I was a farmer and a teacher in a village called Ada in Ghana. I taught and farmed with my mother and sisters to make ends meet. 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. But I made a decision to dream and make it happen by coming abroad to further my studies on housing, academic scholarships and assistantship positions that have made it possible for me to continue my education into graduate school. I have worked extremely hard to make it this far with hopes of driving change in the media sector in Ghana and worldwide. Because I possess the ability to create change and enact it as the practical and visionary leader that I am, I started and contributed to rural communities in Ghana by creating an NGO that provides food, clean water, clothing and learning materials to children in rural communities in Ghana. My non-profit organization Love Nation, (https://www.instagram.com/official_lovenation_gh/) has raised $5,000 within the last two years to feed 500 children in orphanages and provided learning materials to children in seven schools in rural parts of Ghana. My dream is to build the world's biggest media house in Ghana. I would like to add that my vision of building a media house in Ghana is not just a personal goal, but a mission to create a space for innovation, and creativity storytelling to create positive change in society. It will include an investigative journalism firm, TV and radio stations, podcast and voiceover studios, and a media training institute offering programs in creative writing, public speaking, and film. I hope to expand the reach of ethical, community-centered journalism across Ghana and beyond. Last fall, I took a $5,000 loan to my tuition after scholarships. I am working on campus to pay back the loan and to cater for myself. However, I currently owe my institution $5,200 in tuition for this spring semester and no other resources to help me pursue my education successfully and complete this journey which I began. I am considering splitting what I earned from my campus job to pay for both the loan and this new tuition but that will not be enough. In addition, I also support my mother back home with part of my earnings. Being awarded this scholarship in honor of Michele L. Durant help me in successfully completing my education, and most importantly impact the lives of thousands out there. May her soul rest in perfect peace and may her light continue to shine through the world. Thank you very much for considering my application.

My name is Lydia Kai Adjetey, and I am an international student from Ghana. I am currently pursuing a master's degree in journalism at CUNY-J School where I am specializing in TV News and Local Accountability Reporting. I grew up with four sisters and a single mother who worked from dawn to dusk to put food on our table. 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. In exchange for a lifetime of education for the family lineage, he 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 due to a free education program ran by the former president of Ghana. Five years ago, I was a farmer and a teacher in a village called Ada in Ghana. I taught and farmed with my mother and sisters to make ends meet. Seeing my mother, my hero work so hard often broke my heart and made me lose hope that I could ever even achieve anything in my life. But I made a decision to dream and make it happen by coming abroad to further my studies on housing, academic scholarships and assistantship positions that have made it possible for me to continue my education into graduate school. I have worked extremely hard to make it this far with hopes of driving change in the media sector in Ghana and worldwide. Because I possess the ability to create change and enact it as the practical and visionary leader that I am, I started and contributed to rural communities in Ghana by creating an NGO that provides food, clean water, clothing and learning materials to children in rural communities in Ghana. My non-profit organization Love Nation, (https://www.instagram.com/official_lovenation_gh/) has raised $5,000 in the U.S. within the last two years to feed 500 children in orphanages and provided learning materials to children in seven schools in rural parts of Ghana. My long-term goal is to build the world's biggest media house in Ghana. I would like to add that my vision of building a media house in Ghana is not just a personal goal, but a mission to create a space for innovation, and creativity storytelling to create change in society. It will include an investigative journalism firm, TV and radio stations, podcast and voiceover studios, and a media training institute offering programs in creative writing, public speaking, and film. By mentoring the next generation of journalists, I hope to expand the reach of ethical, community-centered journalism across Ghana and beyond. Last fall, I took a $5,000 loan to my tuition after scholarships. I am working on campus to pay back the loan and to cater for myself. However, I currently owe my institution $5,200 in tuition for this spring semester and no other resources to help me pursue my education successfully and complete this journey which I began. I am considering splitting what I earned from my campus job to pay for both the loan and this new tuition but that will not be enough. In addition, I also support my mother back home with part of my earnings. Being awarded this scholarship in honor of Addie James Hamerter will not only help alleviate my financial burden, but also help me in successfully completing my education, and most importantly impact the lives of thousands out there. Thank you very much for considering my application.

My name is Lydia Kai Adjetey, and I am an international student from Ghana. I am currently pursuing a master's degree in journalism at CUNY-J School where I am specializing in TV News and Local Accountability Reporting. I grew up with four sisters and a single mother who worked from dawn to dusk to put food on our table. 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. In exchange for a lifetime of education for the family lineage, he 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 due to a free education program ran by the former president of Ghana. Five years ago, I was a farmer and a teacher in a village called Ada in Ghana. I taught and farmed with my mother and sisters to make ends meet. 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. But I made a decision to dream and make it happen by coming abroad to further my studies on housing, academic scholarships and assistantship positions that have made it possible for me to continue my education into graduate school. I have worked extremely hard to make it this far with hopes of driving change in the media sector in Ghana and worldwide. Because I possess the ability to create change and enact it as the practical and visionary leader that I am, I started and contributed to rural communities in Ghana by creating an NGO that provides food, clean water, clothing and learning materials to children in rural communities in Ghana. My non-profit organization Love Nation, (https://www.instagram.com/official_lovenation_gh/) has raised $5,000 in the U.S. within the last two years to feed 500 children in orphanages and provided learning materials to children in seven schools in rural parts of Ghana. My long-term goal is to build the world's biggest media house in Ghana. I would like to add that my vision of building a media house in Ghana is not just a personal goal, but a mission to create a space for innovation, and creativity storytelling to create change in society. It will include an investigative journalism firm, TV and radio stations, podcast and voiceover studios, and a media training institute offering programs in creative writing, public speaking, and film. By mentoring the next generation of journalists, I hope to expand the reach of ethical, community-centered journalism across Ghana and beyond. Last fall, I took a $5,000 loan to my tuition after scholarships. I am working on campus to pay back the loan and to cater for myself. However, I currently owe my institution $5,200 in tuition for this spring semester and no other resources to help me pursue my education successfully and complete this journey which I began. I am considering splitting what I earned from my campus job to pay for both the loan and this new tuition but that will not be enough. In addition, I also support my mother back home with part of my earnings. Being awarded this scholarship in honor of Teresa Politano will not only help alleviate my financial burden, but also help me in successfully completing my education, and most importantly impact the lives of thousands out there. Thank you very much for considering my application.

“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.