Abena Takyi-Mensah
Class of 2007 BA

After a month of evaluating companies, sending résumés, application letters to companies and attending interviews, I finally had an internship position at one of my first choice places, WATH (West Africa Trade Hub). That was such a relief! The day I got a call telling me that I had been offered an internship position, I was ecstatic. At last, I had the chance to prove myself.

It is the first day of work and I am up early. . .I get dressed up feeling eager and apprehensive to start work at WATH. After an intellectually challenging interview, the least I could do was to impress them on the first day of work. The interview was what I expected and more, my boss questioned my motives behind the responses I gave during the interview and my future goals. That made me ask myself what I really wanted from this internship and what made me tick as an individual.

Every fear I had nursed before arriving at the workplace were erased on the first day of work. Everyone was nice and willing to help me. Using the Microsoft Office suite and the internet at Ashesi helped me learn as quickly as possible during my orientation period. Ashesi taught me to probe when necessary in order to get relevant information. These skills, coupled with confidence, determination, enthusiasm and the right attitude, made me ready for my first official internship.

My internship at WATH was great. I initially worked as a communication intern and later moved to the Export Business Development department. My duties consisted of organizing logistics to help West African businesses make use and export under the AGOA act (Africa Growth and Opportunity Act). WATH has a fast-paced, dynamic and multi-cultural environment; my colleagues were from countries such as Ghana, France, Denmark and America. This helped me appreciate cultural diversity in the workplace.

The working environment was awesome; everyone was passionate about his or her job. However, it was not only work and no play. WATH employees are one of the funniest and most interesting people I have met. During the Football World Cup, we used to order pizzas and drinks while we watched the matches together. At WATH, our ability to mix work and fun, made working a pleasure; co-workers became an extended family.

My diligence at work bore fruit when I introduce two new clients to WATH. One of them was selected within a week of an international forum. That client’s products were showcased prominently in a fashion show we organized during the forum at La Palm Hotel.

I found the  the joy I derived from working at WATH made me want to put perfection in my work.  There were days I felt like quitting, because I had so much to do with so little time or when too much was expected of me. During those times I learnt to prioritize and set realistic deadlines to achieve a considerable amount of work. What stopped me from quitting was the faith I felt people had in me and my drive to succeed.

My internship taught me three principles that if applied diligently will help ensure success. The first one is; in life you get what you bargain for, and to ask for what you desire. The second one is; the only way to the top is through trying to serve people and not thinking of profit as the ultimate goal. The final lesson learnt is to show dedication and enthusiasm to your job. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”.

My internship was a memorable one and I do not regret it. I learnt a lot about myself; I discovered my strengths and weaknesses. The experience gained also made me a better person. I feel more confident and prepared to take on new challenges. With my faith in God and my Ashesi experience, I see a whole new world of possibilities and I have the needed capabilities to capitalize on them.