Real-Life Lessons

It’s been awhile since I’ve last posted. June has been a busy and fun month. My summer MBA course started 2 weeks ago, and I went on a recent vacation to our nation’s capital. While in D.C., I visited my cousin, Laura, and Clara, the host mom I lived with while I was in Ghana. Clara moved to the states a little over a year ago with the goal of giving her daughters an American education. My D.C. experience was eye-opening and reminded me to be grateful of my American life and education.

Clara has an interesting story. She grew up in Ghana, and married her husband, Stephen Bediako Sayki. Together, they had two beautiful daughters, Eduwa and Fritsiwa. The girls were 4 and 6 years old when I lived in Ghana, but Eduwa is now 12 and Fritsiwa is 10. Clara was able to get a U.S. visa and legally made her way to America, but her husband has not been able to get a visa and Clara cannot afford to have the girls here at the moment. The only reason why Clara is here is to give her daughters the opportunity to get an American education. The main goal is for Eduwa and Fritsiwa to go to college here. They all love Ghana, but they want the American opportunities ….and who can blame them? America isn’t perfect, but it is beautiful and full of endless possibilities. I consider Clara and her family to be a part of my family, and I’ll be giving updates on their brave endeavors. With tears in her eyes, Clara said, “I can struggle and sacrifice for 10 years if I can give my daughters a better future. I can do it. But, it is so difficult and so stressful.”