hen I arrived in the United States, I realized that the opportunities were endless. I may have been a quiet person, but I was fearless. And ambitious. And determined. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to further my education, so I wrote my SATs and enrolled in Columbus State Community College for two years. It was quite a cultural shock to find out that I had to work and go to school at the same time. Nobody did that in Ghana! Well, I had no choice, so I took up employment at KFC and a grocery store called Giant Eagle. I remember my senior brother Gilbert came to pick me up from JFK Airport. I was so happy to see him. He bought me my first fast food, Burger King, and that is the reason why, till now, I prefer Burger King over McDonald’s. I had a special bond with my brother because he was always there for me when I needed him to help me adjust to my new world. My brother was a student who had finished with his Master’s degree. I have a memory of going to a Dillards store with my brother, and he would tell me, “Just look, we are not buying anything.” Like he was prepping my mind not to expect to buy anything because he was a student and could not afford any expensive thing at that time. With regards to academics, the schooling system in the US was different and very interactive — a far cry from the strict educational system in Ghana. With a little time to study, I still did well in my classes. After Community College, I did a double major in Healthcare and Business, and got my Associate degree in Healthcare. Healthcare was my favourite. I was, by nature, a very caring person and loved to take care of people. It was in my DNA. In fact, while pursuing my Associate degree, I did work as a Certified Nursing Assistant, where I worked with the elderly, went to their homes, and helped them by reminding them to take their medication, keeping them company, and taking them to their appointments. Comfort Keepers was the name of the agency I worked for. After my Associate degree, I thought, “Whynot goaheadandget aBachelor’s degree?” And that is what I did. I went ahead and got my Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration and Policy in Nevada, Las Vegas, in 2007. W 6. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space on the Space Shuttle Challenger. 7. Political turmoil and human rights violations were reported in countries such as Ghana, but the country later restored democratic rule. 8. Rapid population growth, with China reaching 1 billion and the world’s population estimated at 4.72 billion. 9. Zimbabwe experienced civil war and unrest, but has since made progress towards peace and reconciliation. 10. Significant changes in music, including The Beatles’ breakup and Madonna’s performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. A Year of Epic Shifts and Unforgettable Moments that Changed the World Forever 1983 16 The Birthday Journal
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