The Ink #2 by theinkmag

THE INK

April 2024 | Issue 2

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the new semester. It really felt like a mid-semester break, didn’t it? Anyway, as much as we wish we could do something about it, we’re back. To ease the transition from what I hope was a restful and enjoyable break filled with late night Netflix binges and daytime explorations of the beach, mall or - if you were like me - your room, to a semester, which would be busy and quite hectic, we have the second issue of The Ink, packed with creative expressions inspired by some of the best and some of the worst moments from last semester. And, of course, some of the thoughts you might have sent but didn’t find on our Instagram. A little 60 plus page something for you to procrastinate with.

We hope you enjoy it and you have a wonderful semester!

Editor-in-Chief

Tani 3

S

U N D A Y S O L I C I T O R S

Written by Janet Boye

Picture this: It's a warm Saturday afternoon, and you can finally relax in your room after a long, stressful week. You're enjoying some music, clearing your mind, when suddenly, there's a knock at your door. At first, you try to ignore it, not expecting anyone, but the knocking persists, growing incessantly. Reluctantly, you open the door to find two unfamiliar ladies standing there. As they launch into their scripted greetings, you plaster on a polite smile, hoping to end the interaction quickly. But soon, they delve into probing questions about your religious beliefs, leaving you feeling uncomfortable and wondering why strangers are so invested in your spiritual life.

Despite your attempts to politely deflect their inquiries, they persist, eventually inviting you to their church service the following morning. Caught off guard and wanting to avoid conflict, you reluctantly agree, even though you already attend another church.

In an effort to appease them and end the encounter, you reluctantly give them your phone number, hoping it will deter further contact. However, they continue to bombard you with messages, attempting to market their church's activities to you

Feeling trapped by social niceties and unwilling to cause offence, you must endure their persistent efforts while maintaining a strained smile to mask your growing frustration. I’m a Christian too, you want to say quickly, but from past experiences, you know that won’t ward them off. They finally end their script, leaving you with the “Hope to see you there and God bless you”.

A N E X P E R I E N C E T O

L E A R N F R O M

Written by Afua Saawah Otchere-Mensah

In just one week or two, it went from, ‘I can’t wait to experience what Ashesi has in store for me’ to, ‘Dear God, please I want to go home ” As funny as it may sound, this was how I began to feel after I started my university journey. The exciting words I had written in my journal were quickly fading away I had already reached a point where I felt like giving up Like I had made a wrong choice. Like I didn't deserve to be in Ashesi. I felt so imperfect for where I was. I felt so little. All these emotions started after just one bad experience in one of my classes

I remember that day like it was yesterday I remember listening to those who had presented ahead of me. I felt nervous each time someone presented, knowing that it would be my turn soon, but I tried my best to calm down. We were about 8 people chosen to present the problem we wanted to work on for our FDE 1 class. Now, it was my turn to present my problem and even though I had practiced the previous day before, I still didn't feel prepared. I picked up my laptop and went on the 'stage,' and then the moment of embarrassment happened. The worst happened. I couldn't say anything. I tried to speak, but as soon as someone prompted me to speak louder, the voice of fear also became louder inside my head. When I tried to speak, I would only shake. My voice would shake and my body as well. I felt cold and hot at the same time. After finishing my presentation, I returned to my seat holding in tears. I honestly couldn't believe what had happened. This wasn't me, right?

"Sorrows, sorrows, prayers"

When I came to Ashesi, I could talk to people and eventually make new friends. I knew I was very shy as a person, but I didn't think it was so serious that standing before "the crowd" (my classmates and faculty) to speak would be a serious challenge. The first time I went through the embarrassing scene, I immediately wanted to disappear To where? I don't know All I knew was that I wanted to start life all over again on a different continent or probably move to a different planet if that was possible.

forget what peoplethink and lifeisbetter

BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR SAUCE

ATTEEE!!!!

It was almost as if I had allowed my horrible experience to swallow me up. I felt like the memories of that experience were slowly eating me up alive. I had shed a lot of tears in secret because of this. I felt like I didn’t belong where I was, or I couldn’t fit in. Those who fit in were the other girls, who spoke eloquently and knew what they were saying and what they wanted. I thought that now everybody in the same cohort as me will look at me and think of me as ‘that awkward, shy girl,' 'the girl who can't speak but is very loud when with her friends.’ In my world of thoughts, I would ask myself what each person in the class thought of when they saw me. What did they see?

Well, it turned out that I was probably wrong, and I was letting my past control me and how I would act in the future And even if I was right about what they thought of me, did it matter? I’m still learning, right? I received support from my peers whenever I stood before them to speak. They tried to cheer me on when I felt like breaking down and always showed interest in what I was saying even when I felt like what I said was probably not important. Long story short, I learned a lot from my bad experience to always focus and look forward I learned not to give up even in my flaws and imperfections. I learned to put the past behind me, try my best, and let God do the rest I decided to allow God to transform me into the person he created me to be, and I am fully aware that it won't happen overnight, but I will continue to wait until the time is right I am so grateful to God and the friends I made along the way who encouraged me to keep trying no matter what. Now, let's just wait and see what the second semester at Ashesi has in store for me. Cheers!

yum

G O O G L E

T R A N S L A T E

Written by Fridah Cheboi

While some of us currently find ourselves content with what we have, I can say with a decent amount of certainty that many of us are far from content. Many walk around with loads of worry, doubt, and fear. Fear that we may not be able to reach the heights of the success we have wanted. Fear that we may not become the chart-topping, best selling, and smashing successes we have always hoped to be.

Fear that we will not give our mothers, and fathers a better fancier life. We are afraid that we may be unable to create the kind of art, music, or businesses that would stir the hearts and souls of millions, thereby carving our names and existence into an arbitrary wall of greatness. This fear, more steadfast and sustained than your concentration span during OOP, jumps in as you scroll and stare at the lives of those around you who appear to

be doing better. The extremely impressive Vee Kativhu-s and Innocent Chikwanda-s whose beautiful existence constantly remind you of your mid efforts and even more mid results. There is the bunch of us who wake up every morning with zero motivation, zero energy and a bunch of dwindling dreams. Everyday you drag yourself out of your bed, irked by the thoughts of the leadership and discrete math 8AMs. You are now wondering, “Where is the moving pep-talk? I see you know my problem so where’s the powerful speech that is going to transform my next 9 months?” Well, I hope it won't hurt to add another letdown to the long list of bummers you already have. I don't have any answers. Hey chill, it's not like I owed you any

I don't know if anyone has a decent answer. All I know is that 10, 20 years from now you’ll almost definitely think back and see how frivolous all this worry is. So if you won't be able to take comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone, then at least remember that it's a thing of the moment. And yes I know it's cliche and all, but truth is truth love. It’s sad but itabidi tumekubali❤ (google translate love, google translateee).

��.

“maame sarps you have a heart of gold��”

“Shoutout to Adelard C’2027 He’s been a great friend. Hope we get ladies next semester though �� ”

“Anamalia, you’ve been a good friend this sem and I appreciate you a lot

” “S/o to the real SUPPORT CENTRE”

“shout out to Lizzy C'2027. Hope I get the courage to approach her”

“To Salma, for always being so kind to me. You're amazing. Let me take you out sometime”

“Shout out to Delice'26 and everyone who decided not to do preps without me this sem. Me be having a heart attack these days if not for them.”

“Shoutout to the Berekuso Valley fellows. we’re just getting started”

“Shoutout to myself because this accelerated semester showed me shege”

“Adelaide C27! You've been amazing this sem❤

“Shout to Killers United!! Those sleepless nights that we buried our heads in slides�� and note books would be worth it��”

“Allen Kpents.... always there for everyone. You're an amazing guy ”

“Shoutout to all the boys in the "I'm Batman" group Appreciate y'all fr.”

“S/o to Peezy! Top guy, he deserves the world”

“Shoutout to Nana Kwame, class of 2026! Coolest guy I've ever met here, and the best bomber too��. Love youuuuu!!!❤”

“It was so fun to watch this guy in '27 who stood at the center of all dance circles in the ASC parties. The guy can really dance ��.Hope to see more of him ”

“Special shoutout to all the Nigerien students in c27. You're really brave ��”

❤

❤❤❤”

MAISYBAER SPOTLIGHT:

By Kerzia Ocansey | Cudjoe

Photography by Ronelle

e rigors mmercial 6, has me tome of many esigner, , she tion and what you ggling so anning high ures, we ed by ookies Her eded to siness, her ally on spite her aisy's f n style is nts of ful academic scenery.

Not only does she juggle all of this, but Maisy also devotes her time and energy to football She shows a love for the sport that’s unparalleled, wishing more girls would join the sport and expressing sorrow at the fact that girl football isn’t often given as much attention or encouraged We share in this plight with you Maisy

While there’s more to be discovered about our star respondent, we hope to have sparked your interest about the many interesting personalities roaming the streets of Ashesi. Maisy’s story serves as a reminder that the pursuit of one ' s dreams knows no bounds and that every challenge is an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. So, to all aspiring entrepreneurs, budding creatives, and passionate individuals out there, take a leaf from Maisy's book –embrace your passions, chase your dreams, and let nothing hold you back.

WHO?

By Margarita Perez

WAS CAUGHT IN 4K? WHAT?

Photography by Francois Mercer Photography courtesy of Ronelle Cudjoe, Alosius Akonteh and the Ashesi Student Council

If I cared for these opinions, I would have stood for hours pointlessly, if I may add, with a video or two or 20 of a shirtless Kidi. And I know that's no way to have a good time. Even I, a library rat and nerdy freak know that’s no way to have a little fun. That should tell you something. So, I told them what I am telling you right now, and whether they heard me or not, I unleashed the devil within and whined and whined So, have you gotten the moral of this short intro? No? Well then guess what? It’s your lucky day. I happen to be having a nice day. So, I shall repeat. Don’t be the fan holder It’s boring Next time take a little break and join us, me and my very proud TikTok unworthy dances.

Island riddims. These are perhaps the best rhythms that the human mind has yet to conceive. Songs that carry so much nostalgia, so much love, art, and yet again still remain a bunch of inconceivable rubbish to a few illfated individuals. And this rich artistry is what this year’s ASC week intended to set off from.

ISLAND RIDDIMS

Fridah Cheboi

I told them not to frown upon my little skirt That although wanton, I loved for it to be shorter. I told them, again, not to frown upon my Tik Tokunworthy dances. Cause although weird, I felt more like myself. Happier and in peace. You see, the thing is if I constantly thought about the people that stood watching, then I would be miserable, wouldn't I? I have come to understand that these individuals that stand on the sidelines and watch ever ready to snap snap-worthy snaps, are not really an Ashesi problem. They have existed since time immemorial. They stood at fancy royal balls and watched queen Charlotte and her George dance They would dare not put their phones (sorry I meant fans) and gossip aside. They have always had little to no courage. Well, at least the heroic type that it would take to be carefree in an uptight space where your reputation is as precious as gold One that needed to be protected at all costs Yes, even on a crazy day Where everyone who dared to be truly crazy made an additional effort to cover their face.

It sucks you know, when things don't always go as planned when you put your heart and energy, you’re all into that class project, that business idea, friendship, or relationship Giving everything you could possibly give, only for fate to slowly turn her fine back and give you a blunt, heartless no. It's disappointing, to say the least. And the sad part is that no one will ever know you put all your sweat and sleepless nights into it They won't The best they will do is decide in their minds that you are not good enough when they don't have half the courage it took for you to even try. So big up to ASC and every single person who contributed to giving this terribly solemn hill its very first island riddim party. Despite the many hiccups posed by hired décor organizers, and Ashesi’s terribly hard to please students they were very determined to make this night m did exemplarily.

There are a lot of things that we party. First, I particularly loved mock-up as well as the coconut Brilliant idea if you ask me

You must also have found the bik trying to record everything. Th advertisement build-up to the isl tier I want to know the man or woman behind phone number, too. The Ink mag

Speaking of coconuts. Don’t yo people. Not onions with many l are terribly huge, and others not look better than others They al outer brown shells. But every sing the inside. All these coconuts, discovered. They are meant to experienced. Eaten. Drank. F coconuts sit idly around hoping t may find them pleasing enough someone may find them desirable and try them.

And from time to time, the wrong coconut is picked up, tasted and rudely spit out. It’s only until you travel that you realize how different coconuts from other coasts are You realize that these new coconuts do not have the familiar skins and layers you know Instead, for the first time you find green ones. These new coconuts, they don’t have the fine fiber - like skin that you know too well. You also learn that although they may have more water, they are also very bland. At first you think they are outright horrible But you have them for a second time, and you realize that although it may be an acquired taste, you were just oblivious at the beginning. Perhaps we should stop trying out other peoples coconuts. And if you are that desperate then hold onto one accessible available not owned coconut and hold onto it Even if it turns out not be yours love

** End of detour

It was beautiful and inspiring to see all the student leaders from the ASC execs to JEC heads and even our very own Speaker of Parliament attend and get the party started at an event that has probably kept them up for days The truth is, if our own national leaders put in half the work, you guys apply, we'd not have hungry people in the streets. So, let's give a hearty round of our warmest applause to our lovely ASC. Jah put an angel over them.

Oh and how can I end this piece without letting the pretty devil inside me have a bit of fun. I am pretty sure a few of us thought we’d get to listen to the great Bob Marley, Tarrus Wiley, Alaine and Jah Cure. I speak on behalf of the rights of the men and women who have grown tired of listening to Afrobeats and Amapiano at every single event on campus

You cannot promise us a night of dance hall music and then go ahead to play only one or two actual riddims 4, 5 hours into the event. I mean it’s never an island riddim party without actual island riddims.

A little, “Who introduce you to kissin and huggin (me!) and gentle rubbin (me!)” would have been lovely. A bunch of “Wah gwaan Boonoonoonoos Bomboclaaat” here and there would have been cool Nonetheless, the island riddim was an exciting kick-off to an energetic and wonderful ASC week And we tank God for dat.

Crowns & Culture

My Homeland

By Immanuel Ifeanyi Jibunoh

I was born in Nigeria. It is my home and the only place I have ever truly known Over the years I have come to realize that the beauty of this nation lies entirely in the hearts of its people. But so does its downfall.

My country is plagued by corruption. There are people who are willing to give up everything our nation was blessed with in order to get ahead We live our lives, watching these things happen, hoping for a better outcome. We live our lives hoping and fighting for change. When I look at my people I see a nation full to the brim with a spark for life unlike anything I’ve ever seen before That a group of people can be so collectively tired but still so vibrant and so ethereal never fails to amaze me.

I’ve struggled with having an attachment to my homeland. I’ve always been the type to ask questions, to let my curiosity lead When I was younger, the answers I got were lived experiences Grim takes on what life should be like for a group of people so special. It was so weird to me that people seemed to be okay with a life so compromised. I’ve grown since then; I know more now. I think I’ve come to believe that the things that make Nigeria beautiful could also be the things that are killing it Like the powerful thing that was supposed to save humanity is being used by the supervillains.

I believe these are the things that make up the Nigerian “spark”

I think the first and possibly the most stand out thing is our resilience I’ve never seen a more resilient group of people There’s some inherent bias in that statement but allow me to keep at it for a little longer. If I go outside my house on any day of the week and at any time of the day I will, without doubt, see examples of Nigerian resilience. It’s in the people who shouldn’t have to sleep on the pedestrian crossings It’s in the scrap-on-wheels that the conductors and drivers seem to command with more finesse than race-car drivers. It’s the general feeling of urgency because everyone is just trying to take a step forward. It’s the creatives trying to chase their crafts despite all the limitations that come with trying to be different in Nigeria It’s even in the food and hospitality because Nigerian pride be damned that you show up in our home and you aren’t taken care of. That leads me to the second thing.

Pride. I don’t know what it’s targeted at exactly if I’m being entirely honest There’s an unshakeable sense of pride instilled in our bones. I know I said that resilience might be the most stand out thing but I’d be lying if I denied our Pride. There seems to be this sense of Pride in our identities as individuals as well as descendants of the land It seeps into everything It’s us against the rest of the continent for AFCON The Twitter debates are rampant.

We all seem to have decided that nothing is worth losing our identity for. We commit to it no matter the cost While I don’t know if that's a good thing, I can't help but respect it I’ve even come to admire it and

recently I’ve found myself partaking in the, quite frankly, loud nature of our Pride.

So that’s my opinion; that the things that make us Nigerian are our resilience and pride. I think you could bring up a number of other things but I think if you dig a little deeper you find these at the core of most of them I think it’s an interesting dynamic How these two things translate to both all the best things about us but also the worst

Our resilience may make us shine across the world for a million things. But the million and one is a persistent criminality that the worst of us showcase. Or the pride that those in power seem to have in their disgusting actions. I think I’m just conflicted as to whether I should continue trying to see all the persistent good over the persistent bad. I tend to alternate from day to day. The better days usually have better food. I’ll inform you guys when I make up my mind

Twininnem wininnem 26

TTwininnem

Day

Crazy

craze on the hill

ah Cheboi

s n, but perhaps more accu boys and women, went to a beautiful school. This school was the best in the country. And it promised many things from wealth, health and wisdom. It glittered in every possible way, and many spoke of the sweetness of the fruits it produced. So many went after it. Upon arrival, the most, was asked of them. And so these people, boys and women, put their best feet forward and worked their asses off. They did this for days on end. From Monday to Monday. Until one day, they’re brains could not take it anymore. And so they tore their clothes into rags. Pulled the hair off their scalps. Rubbed their skin with dirt. And put all sorts of things on their heads. From trash to bins, grass and underwear. These people had gone mad. And my, how they screamed. Running Helter skelter. Singing. Crying and laughing. All at the same time. They could not take it anymore. They could have gone to the extent of scratching out each other’s eyes. Good thing, the only thing bigger than their pent up frustrations was their love for themselves. And so this day was ever remembered as part of the ASC week. A week that would be celebrated every year.

wa b)dam you dey madddd

29 what

ONE

Kosua nemekoooo

isCLASS???

MOVE!!!

THE DINOSAUR??

The rest of the night would be a chaotic dance between DJ sets, artist performances and inconvenient issues with electricity – all until our headliner shows up. Our very own Ashesi celebrity, Herman Suede, came on at 1:30 AM, proving that there’s nothing good music and a familiar tune can’t solve He was received very well, particularly while he sang fan-favourites like “Naa Kwarley” and “Kumbaya”, and even had a guest artist join him onstage. We also got to watch Big Moon and R.S. use their effortless charisma to carry the concertgoers through tunes they might not recognize, never letting the energy drop too low. The headliner this year was KiDi, which was exciting news to some and disappointing news to even more You wouldn’t know it if you watched his performance though, as many people raced to the front to sing along to his afropop hits. There’s truly nothing like screaming lyrics in unison when the adrenaline is high and the bassline is pulsing through your veins

Hypemen Accra Mayor and Michael Nichols would ride on this adrenaline for the rest of the night. By 2:30 girls were already being pulled on stage, by 3:00 people were shirtless from the heat of all the dancing, by 3:30 people were dancing on the speakers

Freaky

FRIDAY

A review by Nyameye ‘Kiki’ Akumia

There’s no escaping ASC week, especially as an Ashesi student. Seven days’ worth of fun activities and cool picture-taking opportunities, it’s the best time for the student council to flex their entertainment muscles and event organising abilities. The crown jewel of these events is usually the final day, which is always a concert. From its inception, or at the very least since I was a freshman in 2022, the final day has always been named something hilariously unrelated to the events of the evening From “Utopia” to “Supernova”, the concert usually boasts some generic name almost in an attempt to not distract from whoever the headliner is going to be. And this year was no different. Dubbed “Freaky Friday”, 22nd March (2024) marked this year’s council’s attempt at outdoing the concerts that came before

Like most nightlife activities in the heart of Accra, the event started late – picking up steam at around 11:50 PM even though it was slated to begin at 9. That being said, no good party ends before midnight anyways Whether it was technical issues behind the scenes, or the lack of an audience, who’s to say? I didn’t show up until 11:50 myself anyways.

DJ Fxdda and DJ OJ both showed up ready to bring their A-game and it wasn’t a dull moment until the event came to a grinding halt before dawn, leaving just enough time for people to make it to their rooms before daybreak and pretend nothing happened when they woke up. And just like that, ASC week was over and we had to return to the overwhelming chaos of the accelerated semester

All in all, Freaky Friday was really a testament to the perseverance of the ASC and the determination of Ashesi students to enjoy themselves, at least the determination of those who bothered to show up. Despite the inconsistent electricity, the issues with sound, and the disarranged lineup of artists, those who stuck through it all will tell you that they had such a fun time.

Written by Deborah Benning

Let’s start with a vow that there will be no talk about the time some ASC week events began in this review this time. ASC week was quite a week, memories were made, proposals were accepted, and overloads and blackouts were overcome ASC week 2024 was themed “Caught in 4k” but color me surprised if anything astounding was actually caught in 4k. The photos released later were short of disappointing regarding my interpretation of the theme, but beautiful nonetheless.

Kicking off with the weekend market, girls were absolutely delighted, thrifting to their hearts’ content, and everyone was putting outfits together for the week.

Following The Weekend Market was Island Riddims, however, it was quite difficult recognizing any Caribbean vibes the organizers, ASC in collaboration with Tanks and Bikinis intended to create , apart from the theme appropriate outfits people donned. You couldn’t miss the mini Ghana’s Independence Arch even if you tried, a nice nod to Ghana’s independence, albeit unrelated to the night's theme Dj Fadda! This time! He may have been making love to the crowd with each mix, a massive improvement from Akwaaba night.

Next on the list, Retro Rewind. It was beautiful and probably nostalgic to the staff to see students rewind the clock. Some staff actually took part in revisiting the past with their outfits, contributing to that Ashesi culture that is constantly being talked about. The setup with the Benz on the grass was certainly a crowd's favorite.

Of course, we can’t talk about Crowns and Culture without the skit proposal between Ashesi’s very own Asantehene and the Princess consort The gorgeous displays by student representatives from different African countries was a great display of diversity.

Twinninem on March 20th also had its own interesting action and t-shirts, if i must say. It was a lovely opportunity to feel like a child again with the trampoline and obstacle course

Crazy day! Pure unadulterated fun and no rules. A day that began at midnight for literally everyone thanks to the swarm of temporary nomads who stormed every hostel, and banged on every door in an attempt to set the spirit of crazy on everyone. A day that ended with a fashion show of unimaginably creative -in an insane way-outfits.

The grand finale was a concert with headliners, artists and DJ’s to “blow minds”. Minds certainly weren’t blown in the beginning, but Kidi definitely blew more than a few before the night ended, no pun intended, can’t say the same for our beloved Herman Suede. Dj OJ really has us in the first half, until it was obvious his mix wasn’t long enough for his sets. With a fire being put out because of a fault, Freaky Friday was indeed freaky

The ASC asked us a day to the Week, to picture vibrant colors, infectious laughter and unforgettable moments CAUGHT IN 4K. Can’t relate with the 4k bit but it certainly was an exciting experience for the freshmen and the council did an exceptional job trying to recreate the magic for the seasoned. From the gate to the lecture halls, with stickers and posters, food and drinks, not to mention fire, every single day was filled with potential lifelong memories. Would you consider this ASC week the best one yet? I’ll leave you to reminisce and rate your experience from March 16 to March 22,2024.

D E A T H O F A

S T R A N G E R

Written by Nkrumah Fouvle

Marian does not want to be here.

There here being this house, with actors putting on a feeble sympathetic display.

The display is useless against a death that is premeditated.

The premeditation that everyone saw and no one cared. The premeditation that Marian is using to hide the scrutiny that she deserves.

After all, she was there as the spectacle was being organised.

Marian was embarrassed by how this death was becoming a circus.

This spectacle was, is a lesson getting lost in the sorrows of the actors representing the family.

This family, whose wails are that of an unpracticed orchestra, are savouring, salivating for attention.

The attention is their reward. Marian hopes they choke on it.

It is a sad thing. How this death is being used.

Yet that is the greatest reward that the individual wants to accomplish

The one individual who decided Marian was not and never would be enough.

T H E A C T I N G O F A

P A R E N T

Written by Nkrumah Fouvle

Today is the day where you bury your Stranger, Your stranger who used to come to you for safety has since drowned under your care. The drowning resulted in this scam; You would have traded to be this Marian-she seemed to tend to your Stranger more than you could ever have. It is a pill you were never willing to swallow in the first place. But now this pill is wedged in your wired mouth by the unfortunate secrets about your Stranger.

The strange secrets that have made their home within you-leaving you agitated, the walls of their habitat wiry and pointy.

A perfect attack for an individual of suspicionyet Marian is not harmed.

H O W T O F U M B L E A

B A D D I E

Written by Tani

Act 1

Step one: The meeting

You know this is fiction right?

To fumble a baddie, you must first meet one. Your options for meeting one are limitless. You could meet in class, the library (not recommended), parties or, if you ' re like me, a hall meeting that you don’t want to attend because Barcelona is playing Real Betis. You'd trudge down the stairs with reluctance weighing on your feet. You stand in the corner a bit while waiting for the meeting to start because, even though you ' re late- the meeting was supposed to start at 6pm; it’s 6:30- this is Ghana, you ' re early. The RA and a few students are still moving boxes of pizza and drinks around. Your roommate is lying on a bean bag; his limbs spread out like a banana peel. Tems’ Replay blasts through a speaker in the center of the room.

Then she walks in. Your gaze traces her movement through the room. The orchestra of light music and conversation fade. Almost as though you ' re underwater. She's wearing black baggy pants and a black sweatshirt. Her brown braids wrap around her head like a scarf. You can just about make out her face, despite her braids’ best efforts at being an enemy of progress. She stares at the room, a blank expression on her face. Who is she?.

You have met a baddie!

Step 2: The approach

Now you ' ve met a baddie, what do you do? You could wait for her (or him in some other cases) to approach you, but humans are often in a world of their own. So you approach. She's on the other end of the room. You walk to her with doubt hanging heavy on your shoulders.

What if she's busy? What if she doesn't want to talk? What do you say? Anxiety rises through your chest like the red mercury in a thermometer. Your legs feel light as though you suddenly doubled in weight.

You've arrived and she isn't facing you. She’s staring at her phone.

You lightly tap on her shoulder.

“Hey”

“Hey”, she responds with a smile.

“W…” you look at your feet, as though looking at her face is like looking directly at the sun. It's not. You look back at her.

“What's your name?”

“Annabelle”

“You don't seem so scary”, you say, chuckling.

“Ha ha. How original”

“My bad”, you say with a wry smile.

“What's your name?”

You tell her your name among other things. Turns out you’re quite alike. You're both freshmen. She’s a Computer Engineering major and you’re a Computer Science major. You both like Tyler the Creator, although your favorite album is “Igor” and her’s is “Flower Boy”.

“Do you sing?” you ask.

“Not really. But I play the guitar?”

“Oh that’s so cool! You should play for me some time”

“Maybe”

“You know, I wasn’t going to come here actually”, she says while smiling “my roommate had to drag me here. I’d get her back”

“How so?”

“I don’t know yet, but when I do, I’d tell you”

You wonder how it is that you ' ve never met her before. How your lives existed parallel to each other until this moment.

“Any last words?”, the RA asks, his voice barely audible over the music and the air of conversation around.

“Can I have your phone number or snap or … ” , You ask, reaching for your phone.

“You can have my snap” You hand her your phone and she adds herself.

“Alright. I guess we'll talk”

“We will”, she says.

You smile at her and leave.

Step 3: The Pre-fumble I Don't! Don't text her right after she adds you back. Even though you ' ve been waiting all of the very long two days she took to press the add button.

Wait two hours. Nah too long. An hour. 30 minutes. 15. 10. Fine. Text her. But you ' ve got to be creative. Just like you ' re beginning an essay, your first text must hook the reader in. Think. Think. Think.

“Heyy Annie!”

No. You don't know her like that.

“I know patience is a virtue, but two days??”

No. Too entitled.

“Heyy Anabelle! You might have actually scared me. I can't sleep in the dark anymore”

“No!!!! Come on man!

Think. Think. Think. “Heyy”, you send.

Not the most creative, but you can't go wrong with the classic Hey with an extra flirty y.

Now you wait. You throw your phone away and turn to your laptop. Anything to speed up the passage of time. To turn hours to seconds. Your phone buzzes.

TBC 43

“Hiii”

U N T I T L E D

An anonymous submission

Like love’s last call,

I’d wish to dance with her at a ball, At the glamour of her looks, Our hearts would form bonds for the books,

Watching her slip into another’s arms, Finding him hospitable like yams in barns, Except with every other girl I’m empty, And with her, my heart is left dirty,

With puzzle pieces left of my soul, Part of which she stole, In this livid world I crawl,

Seeking peace from the last brawl.

Finally I found my rest like a token, But, she knocked back and I opened, Like fireflies she lit my heart up,

Now it’s burnt again

44 Get well soon buddy - Tani

Jim Clifford

Who would you be?

If there were no social constructs to mold you.

What would you do?

If there was no burden of consequence

Who will you save?

If their existence has no value to you

What will you achieve?

If there were no limits on what is conceivable

Where will you be?

If your heart is not guided

Whom will you befriend?

If friendship is independent of coincidence?

How would you find peace?

If you sprouted from the belly of war, what would you call peace?

Who would you love?

If it was not initiated by physical attraction, would you even call it love?

How do you know you are in love?

If your heart has never ached

What power would you hold?

If any can be given to you permanently

What exactly will your legacy say?

If the pen was in your hand

Who will you now be after asking yourself these questions?

Q U

E S T I

N S . . . ?

T H A T

F E E L I N G

An anonymous submission

In the depths of despair, I find myself,

Lost in that feeling I can't quite describe.

A heart, once whole, now shattered in endless shards. A burden of a thousand pounds, too heavy to bear.

From my weary eyes, streams of glistening tears flow, beautiful in their sorrow, yet painful to the core.

Crying… they call it, the release of my anguish.

A testament to the depths of my despair.

Left out, a failure in a world that moves on. Expectations shattered, dreams unfulfilled. Worthlessness engulfs me, time wasted, lost.

An underachiever, drowning in self-doubt.

Nothingness surrounds me, a void of existence.

A cascade of small failures, a relentless fall. Every effort, seems futile, rendering my whole being to insignificance.

Bitterness finds a home within my weary soul. Hating all, even those I once called friends. Yet, deep down, I know it's not them I despise, but a part of myself, a reflection of my pain.

Hope flickers, a dim light in the distance, wishing for a better tomorrow, a brighter day, but stories don't always end in joyous triumph, reality reminds me, bleakness is maybe here to stay.

D R E S S C O D E

Nana Yaw

In a realm where laughter sells for free, Our friendship rode tidal waves from the summer sea, Entrusted ourselves with bonds linked by heart, In this drama of life, we play our part.

From epistles that convey overall stress, To the shared silence where words digress, From meaning to causing hurt, Moments when peril chose to exert.

In our quest for strangerhood, we found friendship

One so strong, it begins to eclipse, Through trials and triumphs, our spirit uplift In its embrace, our souls take gentle trips.

From dress codes to empty fridges, Together, we navigate life’s winding ridges, In the mundane and the extraordinary alike, Our bond remains, sturdy as a pike.

Claypot To bonds broken by piece but strengthened by war

The Hill Speaks The Hill Speaks The Hill Speaks

Your unfiltered thoughts

“I like this girl in 26 but she's taken so I'm waiting for it to cast then I'll step in”

“I’m with this girl but I want her roomate”

“Freda Marie ‘25 is the SWEETEST GIRL EVER��. I love you girlllll”

“I am very grateful to Joana (2025). Even with your own busy schedule, you sacrificed and made time for me. Thank you, I couldn’t have done Pre-calc without you. ”

“So the accelerated semester CAST!? The C28s are coming NEXT YEAR January �� OMO so my summer was just taken away from me like that ��”

“Ngl.Itstillhurtsthatthey broughtKidi.”

“Iknow you(2027)and yourboyfriend recentlybroke up…I’mherefor emotional and physical support”

“Amaliah(2027)Ihaveahugecrushon you ,you’resooprettybutI’mshytotalk toyou ,nextsemI’llgetthecourage ”

“You people are stressing out Dean Abdul o ��”

“Amapiano every time, overplayed Ghanaian songs and the occasional afrobeats. Y’all need to up your party music game for real! Dancehall, Riddims, RnB, Pop, Rap, Hihop, Reggaeton etc. are they a joke to you???”

“If he doesn't like me like that, he should honestly just leave me alone. ”

“Theschoolpretendstocareaboutus andclaimtoaddressourissuesbutcome totownhallmeetingstotelluswhythey can’tdoanythingabouttheissue. Tswww ”

“Justto letyoupeople know I’m soon to be taken!In caseyou were crushing on me, tic tac!”

“My friend has gone four years no girl. I’m worried for him��”

“Said hi to one of my crushes today. Our love story has began��”

THE DR MAAME MENSAHBONSU YOU DID NOT KNOW

By Fridah Cheboi and Tanitoluwa Olamiji Adebayo

Photography by Ronelle Cudjoe

Fridah: Who is Professor Maame Mensah Bonsu outside school? Does she have hobbies?

Dr. Maame: Does she have hobbies? She’s a bit of a boring person, actually. My hobbies aren’t all that riveting. I like to sing. I actually like to bake and cook, which actually makes me very sad The idea that thisbaking and cooking- is something I enjoy doing makes me very sad because it makes me very conventional. I have this really false image of myself as a rebel.

Tani: A rebel to stereotypical standards of what women should be?

Dr. Maame: Yes! I always felt a bit like a rebel.

Fridah: Do you mind expanding on that?

Dr. Maame: This is the challenge I am told that if I were to attend any rebel conference, they’d throw me out. I don’t have any serious stories to share. Yet I have this reputation as a rebel mostly because I was a bit of a smart mouth, I will admit that. And I suppose that Ghanaians find it a lot difficult to deal with nonconventional thinkers Perhaps that’s where my overblown ego about my rebel status comes from I was once punished to write three hundred lines of “I will not talk back to my teacher” or something and I wrote each line three times within one demarcation and I numbered it to 300. And when my teacher complained, I told her that I figured I had learnt the lesson, and I didn’t need more trees to die for me to express that I had learnt the lesson. So clearly, I ended up with a bit of a reputation that way. But I don’t have any wonderful stories to tell you.

Which is why the idea that my hobbies include cooking and baking, which girls are supposed to enjoy, makes me so sad.

I like to hike, and I like theater. And, again kind of disappointing, I like to do a lot of DIY. Well, I used to like that. I’m older. I don't have the energy for that anymore But I still really like interior decor So as hobbies go, I think that’s it Not a terribly interesting person outside of school, sadly.

Tani: I could see the theater one because your classes are kinda like a performance.

Dr. Maame: Class should be fun At least, it should be memorable. Theater is fun. Theater is a way of borrowing lives, and it makes you both a better person and a person more likely to be in conflict with themselves. Because you borrow lives and you borrow eyes and whenever you borrow eyes, sometimes you encounter yourself through those eyes in ways that you had not thought you’d come across and it can make you either dislike those eyes more or have a whole other session about “hmm Am I really that intolerant?”

I enjoy the experience of other people’s lives And it makes me more grateful for my real life When you encounter other people in theater, whether you watch it or perform it, you have to allow yourself to be in the space as opposed to doing the thing that is really cool when you’re young, which is often grumbling and acting like you’re too cool to be wherever it is you are Even at parties It’s strange and it’s not just your generation My generation did it, my parent’s generation did it. Apparently, it’s a thing to be too cool for even the party you’re at. You can’t be enjoying it too much. You have to be a little bored.

Tani: But back then they didn’t have cameras or social media and right now those things exist.

Dr. Maame: Yeah. The thing I find a little overwhelming about social media and the impact it has had on young people is what they think they should share. Like the almost automatic reach for a phone to record anything marginally interesting The inability to live in the moment Or to have a conversation in which you rant about something to your friends, not to the world You rant to people You are talking specifically to people as opposed to thinking your opinion is valid enough about everything that it ought to be put out into the world. And then be surprised by pushback. Some of it is a lot of cyber bullying, but sometimes I see people’s responses to other people’s videos, and I’m surprised. Like why are you surprised? You said hurtful things and people said hurtful things back. Why are you surprised?

Tani: On that, what do you think of ASC week?

Dr. Maame: Sadly, I was ill on crazy day. I had a fantastic crazy day outfit planned, but I didn’t get to wear it. I was very disappointed. It wasn’t until Wednesday night that I accepted that I wasn’t going to be able to make it to school. I did like the community spirit and it’s nice to see what the students choose to do when you let them lead And I think it’s nice to see a bit of a break from the apathy that as a generation, not necessarily Ashesi students, you’re always supposed to be too cool to participate in things wholeheartedly And somehow, being very, if you will, patriotic to your school is something to be ridiculed for. It was nice to see a week in which people didn’t have to apologize for how enthusiastic about their experience they are. Hopefully that seeds a more generally enthusiastic culture across the year. Because this is the life you have, whether you’re enthusiastic or not. You can spend it being whiny and too cool to enjoy it or throw yourself into it and make wild memories before you pay tax. ASC week was really cool I hope to see more things by student clubs More student led community things It was nice to see faculty kind of be indulgent about it. Often, we have to hold you guys in check. You guys work hard. It’s nice to see you play properly as well.

Tani: Word on the street is that you kinda terrorize students. Word on the street. Not my words.

Dr. Maame Mensah-Bonsu: * Laughs * I think the process of learning to think and learning to trust your thoughts and your opinions and learning to distinguish between a quickly and hastily formed opinion and an informed thought is a bit painful and not necessarily natural.

In the UK, people always thought I was weird because I enjoyed teaching first years. Everybody hates teaching first years because they come to you thinking they’re grown-ups and they’re not And they’re not used to thinking, but they think they are because they’ve done very well in their high school exiting exams But high school exiting exams are meant to test, really, memory more so than anything else. So, you come to college, and we now want you to think. And you assume you know how, but you don’t. And a lot of people hate being the one to teach that process. I enjoy teaching first years because I enjoy the opportunity to be part of the way in which they discover their thinking. But that process is not necessarily an easy one. So even students who like me are tired out by my class because the process of “becoming” is always exhausting

So, I do understand that I “terrorize” students, but I don’t terrorize students because I bully them. I terrorize students because it’s terrifying when you open your mouth knowing that what you’re going to say is going to be interrogated.

And you’re going to be asked to stand by it or recant it. And you’re going to be asked questions that will make you think about what you originally thought was perfectly set in stone and obviously right and easily logical.

I had the same journey myself when I began my philosophical study. So I completely sympathize. But it’s such a beautiful gift to have- the ability even to realize that there are gaps in the way I think or that there is a place where my heart and my head are not aligned. And sometimes you struggle with that. And sometime you come to the conclusion, “you know what, I’m not ready to fix this particular alignment”.

So the point in that story was that sometimes, your philosophical journey leaves you in a place of discomfort with yourself and no one really likes the person that makes them feel uncomfortable with themselves. So, I set out not to be popular. I set out for my students to look back some day and be glad they encountered me.

The thing with fantastic teachers is that they don’t necessarily teach you all the material in the world. What they leave you with is a passion, a curiosity, an interest.

And sometimes it’s in that specific world, but other times it’s in a way to walk through worlds. A way to deal with material. A really good teacher leaves you unable to go back to how you were before you encounter them when you encounter material after them And I think really that’s what I aspire to be. That’s what I became a teacher for.

Tani: Do you think it would be easier- the process of learning to think- if you separated it from grades?

Dr. Maame Mensah-Bonsu: Sadly, universities have to give grades.

Tani: Then what if it was a pass/fail grade rather than A,B,C D

Dr. Maame Mensah-Bonsu: Human experience suggests that when there’s no difference between the one who excelled and the one who barely made it across the line, that the one who excels stops bothering, It has been the challenge of communism Eventually, people stop bothering because it e it becomes a minimum cross over bar standard that people live by. So if we had a pass/fail system. For the people who have a genuine curiosity about the world.

The people who are genuinely inclined to learn, it would probably make no difference. But most of the world isn’t like that. A majority of the world must be given a personal reason to exert themselves about everything. And so the process of learning to think would be easier or lower stakes if it was pass or fail. But when things are lower stakes, they are also invariably harder to care about. The point in this is that anytime you question things that you have accepted and operated on as if they are truths, you have to reengage with who you are vs who you want to be And that process is always painful Always. So in some ways, I am the messenger who gets shot because I’m the bringer of the bad news.

Fridah: It is unfortunate that today’s concentration span keeps getting shorter and shorter.

Dr. Maame: You know my mother says, when I tell her that I worry about this generation, she tells me that she read years ago an account of an adult complaining about the youth and how the world is about to come to an end because this is the worst generation they ever saw. It sounded quite like a lot of the stuff she had said about my generation. And then she checked the source, and it was someone speaking in Socrates’ time.

Tani: It’s like how in high school, every graduating class is worst.

Dr. Maame: Every graduating class They’ve never seen a class like this before They’ve never had this problem with the senior class before, and yet the next year you'd come, and the school is still standing

Fridah: And that class would be the worst class.

Dr. Maame: Yes And then they’d go “Why can’t you be like the people from last year?”

Fridah: Allow me to take you back to the conversation about backlash and social media. Have you made any comments or written anything that has received negative feedback or that people didn’t appreciate?

Dr. Maame: Honestly, I don’t write personal blogs or anything of that sort, I only ever write well-thoughtout pieces So when there’s backlash it’s backlash, I am expecting, and I am happy to standby I credit my general backlash-free experience to my DPhil supervisor He said of Twitter that’s ruining a good career in a hundred and twenty characters. There was a function to the old method of sending a publication out and getting feedback and by the time- twelve to fifteen months between when you first submit a paper and when it comes out- that process is a moderating process. But Twitter allows you to pop up the first thing that comes to your mind and so you are having a lot of reflex conversations. And reflex conversations never end well Not for the person who started it Not for the person who responds to it So, no I haven’t generally I have seen it happen to people enough that I also pay attention to what I am saying when I speak up publicly.

I don’t have a problem with backlash if it’s for something I believe in. Principles are expensive, I always say. They wouldn’t be principles if they didn’t have a cost. If you could just change them when it is unpopular then they wouldn’t be a principle, they would be a fad So, once you consider yourself a person of certain principles, you should accept that there will come a time when one of those would be unpopular and you would have to stand by them and standing by them means you’re gonna get backlash. You’re going to be unpopular. You’re going to get some shade. And you are either made of strong metal or you’re not. Then it’s not a principle.

So, I don’t really have issues with the idea of backlash. What I do have concerns about is needless backlash. Thoughtless speech and personal disclosures on the internet. The Internet never forgets. And you do not know how you’re going to evolve. So, you should be careful when you’re fifteen or twenty or what you leave out in the world that cannot be retracted when you are fifty-five.

Tani: Do you have any thoughts on International Women’s Day?

Dr. Maame: I do. I always mark International Women’s Day. I don’t believe in all these single-day things. I don’t believe in Valentine’s Day. Don’t be mean to me all year and then make grand gestures. And I don’t believe someone should appoint one day when I should be in love.

Tani: Do you believe in birthdays though?

Dr. Maame: I am a birthday ambassador. I am vicious about birthdays. I do a countdown a month before my birthday. I send out broadcast messages. Everybody knows my birthday song from the middle of February. I send it as a voice note. I posted it on Facebook. So much so that there was one year that I was really stressed and didn’t do it and people asked if I was okay because they hadn’t heard about my birthday, and it was almost the middle of February And my best friend put out a notice to let everyone know that I was okay and that my birthday was coming. I am aggressive about birthdays because birthdays matter. If I were dead on my birthday you’d say “Oh! It’s Maame’s birthday”. So, while I’m alive, you ought to do that too. I don’t forgive people who forget my birthday.

But I think International Women’s Day Yes, I suppose you can accuse it of being a “single day” But I think women spend every day of our lives fighting all manner of battles that aren’t even acknowledged When I get home at the end of a long day. My day hasn’t ended. I still have mommying to do. And if I got home with my husband at the exact same time, there are very few places in the world, not even in Ghana, in which the expectation would be that I would go upstairs to take a nap and he would go to the kitchen to see to our dinner. There are very few places where that is true. I don’t think that any mother ever goes to work and says she needs a break because her children have been sick for three days and her boss says “You’re right You’re tired” They don’t cut you any slack for being a good worker if you’re a bad mom And they don’t cut you any slack for being a bad worker if you’re a good mom. So you have to independently be a good person. A good mother. A good wife. A good daughter. A good all kinds of female things and also a good worker. Whereas if a man hasn’t gone to visit his mother in six months and got promoted in the time he had been away, everyone would say “He was busy earning the promotion. She should be proud of him.” So not only does he get away with the neglect She gets judged for requiring emotional attention when that would have been in the way of his progress But no daughter gets that amount of slack

Written by Nyameye “Kiki” Akumia

April 12, 2024

Ashesi Senior High School(SHS)

The Ink

56 Accelerated Semester

A Review

The Lost Summer

In a meeting (in 2023) with the provost about the three-semester year that we’re currently experiencing, I remember asking a question which at the time I wasn’t sure I should have asked. If my memory serves me right, it went something along the lines of:

“Will we ever get an apology for this? Because you [staff] keep making it seem like this is affecting us equally but it’s definitely affecting us [students] more than it’s affecting you. It just feels like our humanity was not considered when making this decision without us.”

It was met with mild applause, mainly from people who were just looking for any excuse to disagree with school authority. Who could blame them though? We were just given some of the most bizarre news, and we wouldn’t even realise how outlandish it was until the succeeding semester.

As the world grapples with the lasting impacts of the pandemic, Ashesi has had to adapt to unprecedented challenges. It goes without saying that the regular academic year starts in September, but because of exam schedules the pandemic temporarily upended the rhythm of academic life. The classes of 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027 find themselves forced to start their academic journeys in January instead of September, throwing the entire university timeline into the kind of disarray which would be the worst in the world only in the minds of staff at Ashesi. In an attempt to restore balance, we have before us three complete semesters in one year – the first of which is almost done [at time of writing].

While this decision may have seemed like a reasonable solution to recalibrate the academic calendar, what can we learn from the mess of the January-April semester? This idea is fraught with severe consequences so predictable that it almost suggests that the school found these issues too trivial to compare to The Schedule. The university acts as though it is threatened with facing the wrath of The Schedule, like it’s the abominable snowman.

However, the sacrifice of the summer break to appease The Schedule threatens to dismantle the quality of education and the well-being of the students.

From the loss of an appropriately long summer vacation to an accelerated pace of teaching, the overwhelming coursework coupled with the lack of a safety net for struggling students, Ashesi students are capable of anything – young adults aren’t particularly known for having healthy coping mechanisms.

Internships Interrupted

The most immediate and palpable loss is the absence of summer vacation. Traditionally a time for relaxation, self-discovery, and experiential learning, summer is an essential part of the university experience. Many students use this period for internships – crucial opportunities for practical experience that the university would sometimes argue forms the backbone of their future careers. By eliminating the summer, the university strips students of this vital opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. Additionally, ignoring the pretentious reasons why internships are important, they are also simply necessary to graduate. The requirement for internships adds an additional layer of complication. Students who have not had the chance to intern are now placed in a precarious position, as they must find ways to fulfil this requirement within the academic year itself, which is already burdened with a heavier workload than ever before. This also places an additional strain on the career services staff as they come up with “innovative” ways to balance finding internships with schoolwork.

Academic Performance Anxiety (APA)

With three semesters crammed into a single year, the pace of teaching and learning becomes a tornado. Lecturers teach like they’re being chased, and student learning becomes a battle to complete assignments and pass quizzes as opposed to a genuine understanding of the course content. Lecturers have had to condense material that would typically be spread over a longer period into a few short months. Topics are being overlooked or rushed through, and I have personally felt that nothing has been truly learned. We, as students, have time now to do only the bare minimum required to do well – engaging in academic curiosity outside the classroom becomes more unheard of as the

accelerated year progresses. This accelerated pace makes it challenging for students to keep up, and people are definitely falling behind.

With this unprecedented challenge for our physical and mental resilience, maintaining the same standards for attendance and participation feels almost absurd. Learning becomes a battleground, as students struggle to balance the demands of back-to-back courses, with no room for breaks. The calendar is unrelenting, and even in periods designated as breaks, like the week off we had after mid-sem exams or the four day Easter weekend, there is always academic work to complete. The stress of an unrelenting academic calendar can lead to burnout, exacerbating feelings of isolation and a general disconnect between peers and faculty.

The pressure to do well feels even more tangible when you consider that there will be no summer school. This presents another significant blow to students who struggle academically. In a typical year, summer school serves as a safety net for those who fail courses or wish to improve their grades. This option now disappears, leaving students with limited opportunities to recover from academic setbacks. Whenever I made this argument, there was a tendency by some staff members to say things along the lines of “There’s no option to fail” or “It’s time to work harder than ever”. There’s multiples issues with sentiments like these because for one, it attributes failing a course to laziness or implies a flaw of the student. In a university not particularly known for having an easy-to-manage workload, empathetic lecturers and a flexible curriculum, what a lot of students need is a slower semester, not an accelerated one. Sentiments like the ones aforementioned ignore students with learning disabilities (some of which may not be very visible/obvious), students with unstable lives outside of school (for example, students dealing with abusive family, or low-income households who have to work extra hard by themselves to balance school and supporting themselves), and any student who is unable to succeed by conventional standards due to circumstances outside of their control. A single failed course could delay their graduation or jeopardise their academic standing.

Mental Health and The Thievery of Youth

All this being said, this brings me back to the initial question I asked in the meeting with the provost. Particularly the quote, “it’s definitely affecting us more than it’s affecting you”.

I could go on and on about the impacts that having limited breaks can have on our development as young individuals but I only have one thing I need to say. It’s easy for staff to trivialise the struggles of students as third party observers who empathise with their colleagues more than they do with their students. But when you consider the pros and cons of the accelerated semesters and how these are distributed amongst staff and students, like most things, there is a power imbalance.

Students are young, and filled with dreams and aspirations and just youth in general. Some of us love the school, some of us would rather be anywhere else. Some of us love the work we do here, some of us have passions that need to be nurtured outside of class. Students are deep wells of potential, potential that is yet to be scarred by the realities of the “real world”. When decisions like this are made without our involvement, we are robbed of a part of our youth. We are robbed of some of the only time we have left to connect with family, to be reckless and responsibly carefree, to take risks and to feel hope that not all is lost and there is still something worth living for. While lecturers get to decide how they handle the workload presented to them, we are simply at their mercy (and we don’t get paid to be students). Ashesi (on paper) is just like many other institutions, but it hurts when it starts to feel just like any other institution – especially when we are sold the lie that our voices matter.

Conclusion

The university's decision is well-intentioned. However, this decision comes with a heavy cost that needs no repeating. Adjusting the academic calendar should be done with care, empathy, and the understanding that students are more than just participants in an academic experiment to create future leaders – they are the heart of the university community. We deserve the apology.

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