Ashesi sits down with Fridah Karwitha ’16 to discuss her time at Ashesi and future plans.
What inspired you to apply to Ashesi?
I was inspired by the honor code system. I initially wanted to do my undergraduate in South Africa, either University of Cape Town or Pretoria, but reading about the honor code made me change my mind. If am being honest I just wanted to say if this thing actually works, I mean come on. How can you just leave your laptop anywhere and even a day later still find it the exact place you left it? Worst case scenario someone will place it at the reception or bring it to your room. Take exams without supervision and not cheat. This to me was an imaginary alternative universe.
What is the greatest thing you have learned at Ashesi?
Me. When you grow up, you totally forget who you are because you are constantly in race to please people. Always trying to read the mind, mood and emotions of people to decide what to say next, how to say it. In this race you lose yourself, you forget who you are, what you like, what you do not like. And most importantly what you are capable of? At Ashesi, you are carefully guided to discover who you are and to realize your full potential. This is something I cannot put a monetary value to.
Have you been involved in any activities or clubs on campus?
I co-founded NewLeaf, which is an after-school teaching and mentoring project designed for junior high school students, located here at Ashesi. We mentor students in leadership, effective communication, goal setting and project planning. I also served as the General Secretary of the Ashesi International Students Association (2014-2015) and the PRO Africa Technology Forum (ATF) (2013-2014).
In your opinion, what is the most important work that Ashesi does?
Ashesi has done so many important things, but if I were to pick one I would say offering scholarships. Without these scholarships students like me could not afford an Ashesi education. This has also increased campus diversity as nearly the whole of Africa is represented.
How has being a Mastercard Scholar impacted you?
The MasterCard scholarship has made me a better leader by making me more keen to the needs of the community (wherever I find myself) and giving me a broader view on giving back. This has also made me more socially inclusive as I have met so many people around the world who also share similar goals as I do because of The MasterCard Foundation. People don’t realize that the MasterCard scholarship is not just a scholarship but a family to many of us.
How do you describe Ashesi to others?
Ashesi is that place where you discover and grow yourself. I would liken Ashesi to a mother teaching her toddler how to walk. The mother is usually always there to guide, protect, motivate and cuddle the child when he or she cries. Eventually the child makes the first two steps, and finally even races the mother.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I want to make a difference in the world through agriculture. I have always loved animals and farming, so I will try creating a career out of it. To achieve what I want I will need high capital so I guess I may take some time before this dream is realized. There are so many un-tapped resources in Africa, one of which is land.