To the child who looks at their empty pockets and wonders if the world has forgotten them: I have been exactly where you are.
I was born to parents who were rubber tappers on the plantations of Firestone and LAC. My parents worked the soil and tapped rubber trees with aching backs, and for a long time, I felt the entire world was stacked against me. But I realized early on that while I couldn’t choose where I started, I had everything to say about where I finished.
The Fire of Refinement:
I didn’t wait for a miracle; I became one. I became “angry” at my poverty level—not a bitter anger, but a restless hunger for change. To pay for my school fees, I did what others were too proud to do:
- I sold Kool-Aid, oil, and second-hand clothes in the plantation for people.
- I sold POLO and worked as a houseboy for others, trading my labor for the hope of an education.
Eventually, I landed at Cuttington University, where I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Thanks to those who helped shape my life. They realized I was determined to learn as evidenced by my commitment – working as a houseboy with the hope of getting an opportunity to acquire a college education.
But life isn’t just about titles; it’s about what you do with them. When the call came, I set my degrees aside to fight for the oppressed and marginalized. For that, I was beaten and imprisoned. They said I was “done.” They were wrong.
The Harvard Response:
Like Mandela, I knew when it was time to restrategise (#Regroup) . I set my sights on the Harvard Kennedy School. The voices of doubt were loud: “You’re too controversial,” “The government will block your admission,” “You have no money.” I refused to let their negative options of me become my reality.
On May 27, 2021, the son of a rubber tapper and a bitter-ball seller stood on that stage. I walked on lappas – African Red Carpet. I graduated with a Master’s in Public Administration and also received the prestigious Mason Fellow Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Management.
That degree wasn’t just paper; it was my final response to everyone who said I couldn’t enter such a global institution meant for the elites.
Your Turn to Change the Narrative:
To the young comrades still complaining: Sit small and reflect. Yes, your parents may be poor, or struggling right now, or sidelined by society. That is their story, not yours. Your creative mindset is your greatest asset and weapon. USE THEM NOW and destroy the imaginary architectural designs of poverty in your mind.
Life was never promised to be easy, but every ounce of suffering you endure today is a deposit into your future success.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
You can make it. The world will tell you “No” a thousand times. Your job is to never, ever take “No” for an answer! #Regrpup CEO.
