I nearly dropped out of varsity in my 1st year - Ghanaian man recounts hard times with single mom
- Hope Kpodo lost his father a week to his final exams at Anlo Senior High School
- His mother had to single-handedly cater for him and his two siblings
- Despite the odds, he has graduated with a degree in Marine Engineering
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When Hope Kpodo was growing up, he had dreams of a bright future like any other child, but life threw storms at him and yet, he has refused to throw in the towel.
From Keta in the Volta Region of Ghana, he was born and raised in a deprived home at Tema in the Greater Accra Region and has live there his entire life.
Kpodo has lived predominantly with his mother and two siblings, attending Anlo Senior High School (ANSECO) and university. His mother sold fish to cater for the family, and he recalls finances were hard.
Source: Facebook
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Challenging times
During his final year in secondary school, he lost his father a week to sit for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Despite the odds, Kpodo excelled in the final exams. ''I was surprised I performed well after the results were released,'' he told YEN.com.gh, a victory that kept him pushing against the odds.
He had to resort to menial jobs to survive and help his mother cater for the family. However, the money of his job was not enough to afford him an education at the tertiary level.
''My grandfather bought me forms to apply to Regional Maritime University. I thought he would pay for the admission fee, but that was it. I had to work and save; I added my little savings to my mom's to pay for the fees when I got admission,'' he said.
During Kpodo's time at the Regional Maritime University in Accra, he grew increasingly frustrated due to financial constraints. He explained that his mother could hardly afford to pay his schools fees.
''It was a nightmare for the family anytime it was due for me to pay my fees. I almost dropped out of school in my second semester in the first year,'' he recalled.
Although there was hardly a turning point, he was determined to change the trajectory for himself and his family. ''I struggled throughout in school because finances were hard. I had to resort to repairing the footwear of students on campus to make ends meet. It was so bad I was allowed to eat for free at the school cafe.''
Overcoming the storms
Throughout the Covid-19 outbreak, lockdown, and return to school, he braved the odds and successfully graduated, joining other hardworking graduands on August 2, 2021, at the university to walk the stage.
On his Facebook page, Kpodo, aged 23, has shared a photo in his graduation robe with the caption:
''Mama we made it.''
But the rounds of financial difficulties are far from over, Kpodo needs to undergo mandatory training to obtain his discharge book, and with that, go to sea to begin his career as a qualified engineer.
Hope Kpodo is appealing for help to raise his tuition fee. Please contact him via 0249264140.
Ghanaian graduates with law degree
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that, after successfully notching another milestone, Kweku Agyepong proudly established that he has graduated with a Bachelors degree in law from the University of Ghana School of Law.
On his LinkedIn page, the Ghanaian student indicated that he is looking ''forward to a brighter tomorrow'' after earning his law degree (LLB).
''Yes! I did it I graduated from the University of Ghana School of Law, with a Bachelors degree in Law. We look forward to a brighter tomorrow,'' he said.
Source: YEN.com.gh
