In July 2017, to the glory of God, I secured admission and a $45k Rotary Grant Scholarship to study at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public service in Little Rock Arkansas in the United States. Between 2005 and 2017, I applied to nearly 35 schools around the world, including community colleges, colleges, and universities in countries such as Brazil, South Africa, Czech Republic, Russia, UK, Italy, China, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, etc.
My desire to study abroad began immediately when I was about to complete Victory International School, Abossey Okai, Accra. It became intense in 2005 when I enrolled in Wesley Grammar Senior High School, aka WesG, Dansoman, a suburb in Accra.
I lacked the needed resources to achieve this purpose. I did not have a credit or debit card to pay for the application fees. In fact, I didn’t even know what a credit or debit card was, and I didn’t have a personal laptop nor access to the Internet cafe in our house. I didn’t allow my lack of resources to hinder my dream. I would save money from the funds my parents gave me each day for school. Then I would use my money to purchase time codes at a public Internet cafe to research schools that met my criteria.
My parents migrated to Accra from Kapoeto, a village in Salaga, Savannah region in the late 90s. They are both yam sellers at the Konkomba Yam Market at Agbogbloshie, Accra. From that moment, I knew my parents couldn’t send me to a community college anywhere in the world because of their trade. My father in particular would normally scold me when I brought up the topic of studying abroad. Not because he didn’t want me to study abroad but because he couldn’t afford the cost that comes with sending me to study abroad.
So, I began researching for community colleges that would waive the application fees and at the same time offer me scholarships that would be enough to cover tuition and other living expenses. As a result, I didn’t care if this community college was located in Papua New Guinea, Rome, Rogers, etc. All I ever wanted was to leave Ghana, get a good education abroad, exposure, and come back to run for public office.
I was met with ridicule, name-calling, and bullying from some of my friends. Some of my close friends ridiculed and called me a ‘professor and English man’ who would not want to concentrate on completing his studies in Ghana. Other friends supported me. All I ever wanted was to leave Ghana to study abroad and return to Ghana when I was ready to enter into politics, possibly run for a legislature seat, Member of Parliament(MP).
At that level, I applied to community colleges that waived application fees for me. I did not have a personal laptop. I would fast to save my lunch money or spend little money from what my parents give me for school so that I can use that money to access the Internet. From Gold Internet Cafe at Zongo Junction to Rikaichan Internet Cafe adjacent to Great Lamptey School, and from Broadway Internet Cafe to Vodafone at Circle all in Accra, I was researching for schools that would offer me a full scholarship to study abroad.
The struggle continued when I gained admission and enrolled into the Wesley Grammar Senior High School, aka WesG. There, I couldn’t secure admission nor scholarship to study abroad. Rejection and denial were the order of the day. In 2013, while at the University of Cape Coast, I registered and wrote the Scholastic Assessment Test(SAT). My center was at the Ghana International School, Cantonment, Accra. I scored 1,070 on the test, which was just above the average score. Despite this, I couldn’t secure admission to study in Canada and the United States.
The more I tried, the more I failed to secure admission to study abroad. But this didn’t stop me from pursuing my dream. Winston Churchill believed and I concur that “success involves moving from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
In 2015 and 2016, I applied to some schools in Canada and China. For China, I applied to Tsinghua University, a top-notch higher institution of learning that trained the likes of Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping, etc. I was denied admission twice from the same University in 2015 and 2016. Universities in the UK would offer admissions with a partial scholarship, making it difficult for me to fulfill my dream.
While doing my national service at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection in Accra Ghana, I continued to research for a way out. I researched and discovered two great universities: the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy in Germany and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, Arkansas.
I said to myself this would be the last school I will apply for admissions. In fact, these were the last schools that offered me admissions. I received offers from both of these great schools and both offered partial scholarships initially. After consultation with Dr. Kwabena Agyemang with the Department of Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Cape Coast, I focused on the Clinton School of Public Service.
It wasn’t long before the Clinton School offered me admission to study for a master’s degree in public service. Initially, in May 2017, I was offered a partial scholarship worth $5,000. In June 2017, I received an email from the school official indicating that I was selected to receive additional funding worth $45,000. I thought it was a joke until I received the official Rotary Foundation Global Grant Fellowship letter from Bob Warner, president of Rotary Club District 6150, Jonesboro, Arkansas in the United States that was sponsoring my studies at the Clinton School of Public Service, Little Rock, Arkansas, US. The rest was history!
I’m deeply touched by your story and this is a wake up call and motivation to everyone who wants to further their education abroad or achieve something meaningful in life. Set your goals, diligently pursue and work towards it and the end result will be amazing. Perseverance overcomes all.
Appreciated!
Very insightful piece, I promised not to give up, despite all the failures
Giving up has never been an option. God bless our hustle and make our dreams come true!
Great bro. I am proud of u John. U were indeed great when we were in JHS together in Ghana. I am now in Germany 🇩🇪 n would also make u proud
Thank you, brother!
am really moved by your enthusiasm… will never ever give up on my self
I am glad my story motivates you. Thank you for reading!
Is a good lesson worth emulating by all.Name the dream learning destination and go all out for it.Your determination and commitment has paid you handsomely and added even more than expected.
I remember the days at UCC and our group discussions.
May the Lord see you through the rest of your days.
Start your legislature dream now
Every dollar count so Save like you were doing to go to the Cafe
Keep burning and make Ghanaians proud wherever you are
Ezeawings
Your comments are much appreciated!
Very inspiring. The time we spent together at the University of Cape Coast was very important, as it reinforced our interest to aspire higher.
Congratulations on these valuable achievements. I trust in you keep moving forward.
I remember how you guided me to study to boost my CGPA. I trailed. I was a second-class lower student in my first year. Your counsel propelled to score excellent grades. Thank you,Josh
Aside your hardwork and perseverance, you are also very loving and caring to your friends and I’m glad our paths crossed on UCC campus. Thanks for inspiring us John and your love for God will also take you very far.
God bless you John!
I am glad to. Let’s link up on Facebook @ John Nsaman or IG@johnnsaman
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