A Ghanaian man, Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako, has shared his inspiring story of overcoming poverty and adversity through education. In his story, published on Joy FM, he recounts his difficult childhood growing up in a large but poor family. Despite the challenges he faced, he worked hard to pass his middle school exams and qualify for secondary school. However, he couldn't begin his first term due to financial constraints and had to catch up with his classmates.
Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako's journey to secondary school was not easy. He had to copy notes from his classmates and learn everything they had studied for a whole term while managing to cope with new lessons. He faced difficulties in various subjects, including Twi, and was once reprimanded by a teacher for not knowing a concept that had been taught during the first term. Despite these challenges, he persevered and eventually passed his O-Level exams.
The difficulties Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako faced did not end at the secondary school level. Throughout his O-Level studies, life was extremely difficult, and he even considered dropping out of school at one point. However, his efforts in learning always paid off during exams, which motivated him to continue. He received support from some generous classmates who came from relatively wealthy homes, but others made him feel the weight of his poverty.
Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako's educational journey continued at the University of Ghana Business School, where his only source of income was a student loan that was never enough to cover his academic materials and personal needs. He often went hungry but still had to study. After completing his first degree, he got a job and later decided to pursue a second degree, an MBA, at the University of Leicester in England.
To support himself while pursuing his MBA, Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako had to work at night, doing various jobs, while attending lectures during the day. He worked in factories processing food and as a security officer at supermarkets. Despite the challenges, his goal was to get an education, which he believed would make a difference in his life.
Today, Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako is not a rich person, but he is also not poor. He is able to support himself, his immediate family, his aged mother, and other persons in need. He attributes his success to education and advises beneficiaries of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy to focus on their studies and not get distracted by social media and friends.
Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako's story serves as a motivation to many, especially the beneficiaries of the free SHS policy. He emphasizes that education is the key to changing one's life and that it is essential to make good use of the opportunity of secondary education. His story is a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and education in overcoming adversity.
Key points
- Education can make a difference in one's life, as Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako's story has shown.
- Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako's journey to education was marked by difficulties, but he persevered and achieved his goals.
- He advises beneficiaries of the free SHS policy to focus on their studies and not get distracted by social media and friends.
