In Ghana, Dr George Asiamah recounts his path from school setbacks to Oxford
In Ghana, Dr George Asiamah spoke about his journey from low grades in secondary school to earning a PhD and teaching at the University of Oxford. He is currently a fellow and tutor at Exeter College, University of Oxford, MyJoyOnline reports.
From a village to Accra
Asiamah is from Chichibone in the Atwima-Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region. At the age of 15, he received four F grades and three E grades in secondary school, which made him doubt his future.
The scholar set out his story in the memoir The Back Route: A Memoir of Delay, Discipline, and Becoming. The book discusses the impact of setbacks, limited opportunities, mentorship and support from others on his academic journey.
According to Asiamah, one of the main turning points was moving from the village to Accra. There, he met people pursuing higher education and began to believe that he, too, could fulfil his academic aspirations. He noted that in his home village he had almost no mentorship and could not imagine that someone from there could achieve significant success.
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Supporting students
Asiamah believes that poor academic results should not become a final verdict for a young person. In his view, families, teachers and educational institutions should provide mentorship and encouragement to students who face difficulties in their studies.
The scholar recalled that after receiving his own school grades, he did not have the necessary guidance and support. He urged young people not to abandon their ambitions, stressing that failure may delay progress toward a goal but does not necessarily determine the outcome of that journey.
Asiamah shared his story during an exhibition and talk devoted to his memoir.
