WHO AM I
Born to a large household in a West African country of Ghana, I have been shy and timid for a long time. The dominance discourse in my society is one is not expected to talk back especially if you are a woman. I am a female, black immigrant to Canada since 2011 to pursue a post graduate degree in Social Work. Not sure if I should call myself an immigrant as the term "immigrant" is socially constructed in this country. Born in rural Ghana to large household, I had the opportunity to be raised by a caring grandma who worked day and night to get me educated in a poor rural community school till grade 6. After finishing sixth grade, my parents took me to a private school in the country's capital where I virtually had to start all over again as I could not speak good English to keep up with most of my school mates who had been born and raised in capital city and had better exposure to modernity. I did not give up and with determination, I used 4years instead of 7 years to complete high school and gain admission into one of the best Catholic Girls' Schools in the Country. This gave me the opportunity to see that I could also make it through the educational ladder. I completed my bachelor's degree in Nursing and worked with World Vision Ghana in rural areas in Western Ghana for 6 years in Public Health. After this I resigned to pursue a post graduate degree in International Health in Germany. In my career at a public health professional, I found myself involved in issues related to social work. I came to realize that .public health is not only about health but more to deal with on social embedded issues.
I am married and have two wonderful children who have been amazing and resilient especially in the last three years. I am a Christian and I believe my trust in God (faith) has been one of the main determinants of my successful journey through this program.
Born to a large household in a West African country of Ghana, I have been shy and timid for a long time. The dominance discourse in my society is one is not expected to talk back especially if you are a woman. I am a female, black immigrant to Canada since 2011 to pursue a post graduate degree in Social Work. Not sure if I should call myself an immigrant as the term "immigrant" is socially constructed in this country. Born in rural Ghana to large household, I had the opportunity to be raised by a caring grandma who worked day and night to get me educated in a poor rural community school till grade 6. After finishing sixth grade, my parents took me to a private school in the country's capital where I virtually had to start all over again as I could not speak good English to keep up with most of my school mates who had been born and raised in capital city and had better exposure to modernity. I did not give up and with determination, I used 4years instead of 7 years to complete high school and gain admission into one of the best Catholic Girls' Schools in the Country. This gave me the opportunity to see that I could also make it through the educational ladder. I completed my bachelor's degree in Nursing and worked with World Vision Ghana in rural areas in Western Ghana for 6 years in Public Health. After this I resigned to pursue a post graduate degree in International Health in Germany. In my career at a public health professional, I found myself involved in issues related to social work. I came to realize that .public health is not only about health but more to deal with on social embedded issues.
I am married and have two wonderful children who have been amazing and resilient especially in the last three years. I am a Christian and I believe my trust in God (faith) has been one of the main determinants of my successful journey through this program.