Meet Eugene Afranie ’17, who is studying abroad at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
What inspired you to apply to Ashesi?
Just like any final year high school student, the thought of college used to freak me out. I occasionally questioned myself; should I go to a big or small university, what was going to be my major, would I fit in that new community and the most difficult of all questions – how or who was going to fund my college education? Not too long after I graduated from high school, I was invited by a family friend to witness her Ashesi commencement. Being the Class Speaker for her year, she highlighted their memorable Ashesi experiences and how they wished it would start all over again. That was the very moment I knew Ashesi University answers all my questions without any form of doubt.
What is the greatest thing you have learned at Ashesi?
The greatest thing I’ve learned in Ashesi is to keep asking questions, particularly “keep asking why”. I recount a session with my Dean of Student Affairs in my freshman year to pitch a project to her and she kept on asking me the question “why…..”At the end of that session, I came out with a more refined idea. It was from this event that I realized that there was nothing wrong in asking many questions because you get closer to the best decision with every question asked.
Have you been involved in any activities or clubs on campus?
In my freshman year, I became a volunteering tutor of Adesua Ye Adult Literacy Program, a member of the Art Factory Club and the Ashesi Business Club. In my sophomore year, I became an intern in Ashesi University’s Office of Diversity and International Program (ODIP). I was also nominated and voted for by my class to represent them on the Student Council Academic Committee. I took on club executive positions in Google club, Adesua Ye and Art Factory as Publicist, Supervising Tutor and Finance Manager respectively. Finally, I am a fashion columnist for Ashesi’s Student Magazine which is known as The Ink.
In your opinion, what is the most important work that Ashesi does?
In my opinion the most important work Ashesi does is giving each student a sense of belonging and helping them to create a niche in the Ashesi University community and the world at large. In Ashesi, faculty, staff and students are always willing to help you in figure yourself out and the role you could play in Ashesi and the world.
What do you hope to do in the future?
In the future, I hope to manage a boutique advisory and consulting firm focused on investment and business creation in Africa. But after Graduation in 2017, I hope to work at a firm actively investing across a broad range of sub-sectors in Africa including: communications, technology, transport, energy, water and sanitation.
Where are you studying abroad, and what courses are you taking?
Currently, I am spending my fall 2015 semester at Swarthmore College, Swarthmore PA. I am taking these courses; Introduction to Econometrics, Financial Economics, Marketing and Photography. These courses are similar to what I study in Ashesi. I now strongly believe that Ashesi, through its lecturers honestly provides a world class education. Here in Swarthmore, I am taking classes with students taking very assorted majors however I am able to engage not only on the course materials, but the class as well. In Ashesi we may take our economics, investment and arts classes lightly but you find that they give us that foundation that enable us to truly fit into the international community of scholars.
What has been your favorite aspect of studying abroad?
Networking! Every day presents an opportunity to meet new people with refreshing ideas and backgrounds, adding a uniqueness to every discussion. Over a typical meal I could chat about life in different countries, helping me to be culturally, socially and economically aware. I cannot leave out my occasional visits to China Town with my Asian friends and my photography class field trips that connected me to a number of prominent American, African and Asian photographers.
How has your study abroad experience impacted you?
My experience at Swarthmore College so far has been thought provoking and very enlightening. I say thought provoking because it is experiencing college life in a new environment, with a new and highly diverse student body. In addition, being in an environment where I form part of the minority in terms of culture and race. It has been a very challenging step into the new beyond. Bringing me outside my comfort zone of familiar faces and situations into an evolving zone of confronting uncertainties. Amidst all these uncertainties it is very enlightening because I find myself engaging with other part of the world and gleaning insights from a more multicultural and global perspective with the help of students, faculty and staff.
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