ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF

Happy Sunday month! In 2019, I gave this speech at the CAMFED Mastercard Foundation Tertiary Scholars Graduation Ceremony in Sunyani, Ghana. The content still speaks to me even today. This is the last of the stories I am sharing from my latest book, Yarns of inspiration II and I hope it blesses you. It’s entitled Advice To My Younger Self.

Enjoy

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The National Director, Scholars Council Chairperson, Programs Manager, CAMFED staff, participating schools, honorable graduates, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, I was so excited about coming here this morning that I woke up 30 minutes before my alarm clock would ring. I bring you greetings from Kumasi. I feel very honored that you chose me to give the keynote address at this year’s (2019) CAMFED – Mastercard Foundation Tertiary Scholars Graduation Ceremony. Congratulations to all our graduates! I am sure you have worked really hard for this. I also especially want to commend all Mastercard Foundation beneficiaries for seeking out programs like CAMFED and applying for it. This tells me that you are curious and courageous. These two attributes will take you places. And to the Mastercard Foundation, thank you for the great work you are doing in bringing hope to many youths across the world.

Ladies, as you are graduating today, I thought I should share with you a bit about my own life and then give you five pieces of advice I would have given to myself 14 years ago when I graduated from the University of Ghana. Today, I am a Corporate Trainer, but when I was in school, I did not even know what that entailed. In my circles at that time, the prestigious professions were medical doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, etc. I majored in Economics and Psychology, and at the time, I did not have a clear path of what I could be when I grew up. Right from my early childhood days, I was just sailing through life, going wherever and doing whatever I could because I did not have any particular aim. At different points in my life, well-meaning adults suggested I should be a lawyer because I loved to read. I also quietly fantasized about being an author someday. None of these goals was concrete, although I knew I definitely wanted to have a good job, wear high heels, nice clothes, and hold a briefcase bag.

When I graduated from university, I had two choices: to return to my temporary summer job in the US or go on a working holiday visa trip to the UK where my then-boyfriend lived. Obviously, I chose the...Click to read the rest https://www.amaduncan.com/advice-to-my-younger-self/