David Agbenyega is a student at Ashesi University in Ghana. Ashesi University is a relatively new addition to the Ghanaian higher education system. It was established with the goals of training Africa's future leaders by nurturing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and citizenship. It is governed by advisery boards in Ghana and the US.

The word Ashesi means beginning. That word for me connotes a fresh start towards an uncharted, but nevertheless bright future. You see, after graduating from High School, I decided to enter college and study to become a medical doctor, a much favored ambition in my family. And once I had gained admission into one of the nation's best universities for the field, my career path was determined. But I knew medical school wasn't really for me; the sight of blood, the peculiar scent of hospitals, pills and injections - all of that was just too depressing for my liking - however, I had been accepted and my course was set. That was when I discovered Ashesi University. The school came as a savior, giving me the opportunity to study computer science, the field I knew I was meant to pursue, within a small college atmosphere that allows me to have easy access to faculty and technology resources.

The liberal arts core program offered at Ashesi University has enabled me to stand out amongst my peers from other universities. This is not necessarily due to the way I dress or behave but rather the manner in which I respond to varying situations. I have been taught to think critically; to act based on facts and truth, not based on assumptions or perception. In a Precalculus class I was part of a group of students that conducted research on Tigo, which is one of the four mobile telecommunication networks in Ghana. My group was able to verify exact call rate charges and estimated revenue the company earned using the simple Precalculus concepts we had studied in the class.

Seeing the looks on the faces of my colleagues from other universities when I recounted the experience was great. I have come to realize that, although producing the results matters, what matters most are the methods that form part of the problem-solving process. I have learnt that my textbooks only tell me "how". What I needed to find out is "why" and "when" that knowledge needs to be used. From the lecture halls to the cafeteria, there is always some sincere academic interaction going on amongst students, each looking for new ways to solve problems, knowing that the solutions lie somewhere within their grasp.

To further encourage applied learning, Ashesi University offers students the chance to take part in various work-study programs. I thoroughly enjoyed the work I did as a library intern in my first semester; the best part of it was that I knew exactly where I could find almost any book I needed for research. Presently, I am working at the university's Development Office, and though the tasks I must perform are often quite demanding, I have been able to use my own abilities as well as the skills I acquired at my various classes to produce results. This is an opportunity I know I would be unlikely to get anywhere else. Ashesi's work-study program challenges you to solve problems for which there are no textbook answers.

Because careers are cultivated on campus, it comes as little wonder that 95% of Ashesi's premier graduates already have jobs. This is why I am so compelled to wake up every working morning of my summer break to challenge myself and go to work. I know the world out there is fiercely competitive, but I am confident that Ashesi will get me one step ahead of the rest in the game.

Another aspect of the atmosphere at Ashesi that I enjoy is the way students from very mixed backgrounds are encouraged to interact. At a local food joint in the vicinity of the campus I sometimes get to watch some international students try out some of our local dishes. It's funny to see them experiment and then later, throng to the place. In the on-campus accommodations I had too hold my sides from laughing to hard at the comic rivalry between my Ghanaian compatriots and the school's Nigerian students during the World Cup qualifier, and especially at the arguments that arose concerning whose country had the better team and would qualify. As it turned out... ahem... my country was the one to make it through.

The welcoming atmosphere described in catalogs and newspapers is not just some advertising ploy or marketing gimmick. I experience it everyday. What all this leaves me with is an assurance that Ashesi is the right place for anyone seeking a fulfilling four-year undergraduate experience and desires to be a part of an international community.

Many successful businessmen and women owe much of their successes to the universities and colleges that molded them. Personally, I owe much of what I am becoming to Ashesi University and the dream of its founder, Dr. Patrick Awuah. That is why I invite you to share in this dream, the dream of joining in a unique community eager to change Africa and impact the world. In Ghana, we have a traditional saying that "the educated have longer strides and proud gaits". Though that may be true, I believe that Ashesi University gives you more; an education at Ashesi adds competence to that sense of pride!

You can learn more about Ashesi University at their website.


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