still that child in the corner of my first classroom, watching her turn ordinary moments of little minds into impactful adults who still call herMrs. Asante. Life has tested my mother many times—from the seizure of her small business shop at the UST business area during the PNDC years, to the disease outbreak that wiped out her backyard poultry, the nights of burnt bread from her little bakery venture, and ultimately, the painful loss of our father when we were still young. Each trial could have broken her spirit, but she never yielded. Through it all, my mother remained steadfast—resilient in work, unwavering in faith, and unshaken in love. Frommy first classroom, my first teacher gently taught her pupils how to get the alphabets and two-letter words right, no matter howmuch time it took or how difficult it was. Similarly, she taught me that failure and disappointment are not the end, but only lessons. At one of my lowest moments in my early professional life, I lost a mentor just as our mentor-mentee relationship was blossoming, and when I was beginning to get comfortable living in a then-rural area—Kintampo—I decided to go back to Accra and start something else or travel abroad. I made a stopover in Kumasi and explained my situation to my mother. The next morning, she came knocking on my door, and her message was simple: Go back to Kintampo. God has sent you there for a purpose. Pray, be strong, work hard, and make an impact. And I did just that—and never regretted it! As a mother, she didn’t merely preach resilience; she lived it. She continues to show this same truth of life to me, my wife, her grandchildren, and her children (and by the way, she has many—always like, “mi ba baako na owor Kwadaso no b3 ba ha!”). Now, as I write these words, I understand why that first memory of my mother—my first teacher in that first classroom—has stayed with me all my life. It wasn’t just about a little boy following his mother to school—it was about the beginning of everything I would come to know about love, work, impact, resilience, tolerance, and purpose. Yaa YaaMonica! You will be remembered not only as my mother but as a woman who shaped the world around her in quiet, unseen ways. Youmay not have the titles or wealth that the world often uses to measure success, but your life is measured by something far greater— your effort, kindness, persistence, and impact. And in all these, you have achieved one hundred percent. Your legacy lives in the many people who revere you and call you by names that carry affection and respect—Ma, MyMother, Mommie, AuntyMonique, Mrs. Asante (to your pupils), and NanaHemaa (to your church members). Each name tells a story of someone whose life you have touched, someone who found guidance, comfort, or wisdom in you. Nyame nhyira wo! May God continue to bless you abundantly. Enjoy your 16th birthday (you can multiply 16 by 5 to get 80 years if you want) to the fullest—in good health, peace, and strength. I love you deeply, always and forever. Nana Poku 68 The Birthday Journal
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