Q: Why did you move to Ghana?
A: My parents are from Ghana, and my mother was homesick, so in 1999, she went back and my sister and I accompanied her.
Q: So what was that like? It must have been a culture shock.
A: It was a big culture shock — it’s completely different. The pace of life in Ghana is more laid back, and the country is not as developed. There’s a bigger focus on tradition and culture, so I had to adapt to that because I didn’t really know that much about the culture. But it was an interesting experience. I really liked it, and I hope to go back sometime soon. I would like to live there eventually. I want to work in America for a few years and then go back to Ghana and try to start a business. My sister is currently in her senior year of high school. When she graduates, she’ll come back to America for college also.
Q: How did you hear about Vassar?
A: Vassar has a big reputation in my high school because a lot of students from there have come to Vassar. Because of that, I got interested and looked into it and decided to add it to my list. When I got in, it was a hard choice between this school and other schools, but in the end I decided to come to Vassar.
Q: So you’re majoring in economics with a correlate in math. Did you come here with that intention?
A: We had the IB [international baccalaureate] system in my high school. You take six classes — three at a higher level and three at the standard level. Economics was one of my higher level courses. Since I was about 16, I’ve just always wanted to do business. When I was younger, I wanted to be an engineer, but then I changed my mind. And now that’s what I’m sticking to.
Q: Aren’t you head of the Entrepreneurs Club?
A: I was, but due to my busy schedule, I had to let that go. It was unfortunate because I would have liked to do it, but I accepted the role when I knew I had too much on my plate already. I’m currently one of the campus liaisons for Hip Hop 101. I’m also the cochair of the media section for the Vassar Haiti Project...I’m also in the African Students Union...and I’m in the Vassar Christian Fellowship...and I also play rugby. I had to stop that as well, just for this semester. I’ll join back next semester.
Q: How do you manage all that stuff?
A: You have to be disciplined and use time management. It’s hard, but one thing I do to make sure that I stick to my schedule is to think about the future and what would happen if I didn’t do it. Things would not be done efficiently, and I would be stressed. When I keep that in mind, I know that I can get my work done effectively.
Q: What’s the most interesting class you’ve taken so far?
A: The most interesting class so far would be either Intro to Macroeconomics or Global Geography. Intro to Macro might not excite a lot of people, but the professor was very vibrant and energetic, and he made it intriguing. And the other class, Global Geography, was about human interaction with the environment. We looked at so many different aspects, from the fast food industry to racial segregation. The course also included aspects of economics, which made me like it even more.
Q: Do you know what kind of business you want to do?
A: For right now, I want to pursue a career in investment banking and stock brokerage. I’ve always been a city person, so I think I’d like New York.
Q: Do you think a liberal arts education is good preparation for a career in business and finance?
A: Definitely. With a liberal arts background, you don’t have tunnel vision. You touch on so many subjects, and so many different aspects of a subject, and you can take any situation and look at it from so many perspectives — from an economic perspective, a geographical perspective, a scientific perspective. It gives you a much broader outlook, and it makes you much more aware of all the variables in any given situation.
Q: Of all the activities you’re involved in, which is most important to you?
A: The Vassar Haiti Project. It’s a nonprofit organization where we purchase Haitian art and and bring it here to Poughkeepsie for an annual art sale and auction. And then we send the proceeds back to Haiti to finish the construction of an elementary school in a little village called Chermaitre. The proceeds are also used to purchase school supplies for the children and pay teachers salaries. During freshman orientation, the Vassar
Haiti Project was the activity I chose. I liked it from the start, and I’ve stuck with it. I’m the cochair of the media section.
Q: What does this project do for you?
A: It’s a good cause. I feel that education is something that every child should have because you can make a difference in your community if you have knowledge and skills — writing skills, speaking skills, social skills. And through the Vassar Haiti Project, we’re able to provide that for some children, and that’s good. The school that they had before had no roof, so when it rained, they couldn’t have classes, and that shouldn’t be. They should be able to have classes at any time. Also the more you learn about Haiti, the broader your horizons are and the more you realize how fortunate we are to be in the situation we’re in and how important it is to try to help other people who aren’t in such a good situation. And also the art is beautiful — I love the paintings and the artifacts.
Q: When you first came to Vassar, what surprised you the most?
A: How liberal the campus was. I knew it was going to be liberal, I just didn’t know it was going to be so liberal. I come from a very conservative background. I’m accepting towards others, but there were definitely a lot of surprises. But it’s great to get to see things from another perspective. I don’t think you should always stick to what you’re comfortable with. You should be able to go anywhere but still maintain your own sense of who you are.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned at Vassar?
A: I had all these different mindsets, and when I came here, some of them changed, and I think it made me a better person. I think that’s the most important thing I’ve learned at Vassar, to be open to questioning my own preconceptions.
