Demetrius

“No limitations to where you can go…”

In just a few days, I will depart from John F. Kennedy Airport. After a 16-hour flight I will arrive in the biggest city in Ghana: Accra.

I never could have imagined God would open the door not only for my entry into a predominately white institution such as New York University, but that He would mold my path so that I could venture to the capital of Ghana for exactly four months to study.

I was practically born into the system due to my parents’ substance abuse and subsequent neglect (both would hesitantly place their addiction over their children).

Through faith in God, myself, and the people He has placed in my journey to guide me out of the abyss of despair, I was able to rise against the pressures, stigmas, and societal expectations for not only a foster child but also a black male. And now, I will be leaving behind the exceptionally frigid temperatures to absorb the mighty rays of the sun in Africa.

While enjoying the change of weather, I will dive into studying Twi, one of the 250 languages spoken in Ghana. I will research the politics dominating the West African country, followed by engaging in a comprehensive look at the slave trade dating back to the 1400s.

I know not what endeavors lie ahead but as my favorite writer James Baldwin wrote, “If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.”

Goodbye America, hello Ghana!