I have reconnected to my painting talent.
Nana Akua found herself struggling to cope with her Chinese studies due to changes occasioned by COVID-19. CoRe gave her a doorway to virtual learning, which she embraced with both hands. She tells her story:
My name is Nana Akua Asantewaa Afram, and I live at Tema. I was a tertiary student studying Chinese prior to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. COVID-19 dealt a big blow to my academic pursuit, and I suddenly found myself struggling with a totally different approach to my university studies.
As a language student, I had been made to believe that the traditional learning mode was the best way to learn the Chinese language. I was, therefore, worried. Nonetheless, I managed to adapt and pass my end-of-semester exam. Then the Coronavirus struck. There was so much uncertainty and confusion surrounding the pandemic that I became anxious and often quite depressed.
I heard about the CoRe Programme through social media on a WhatsApp platform, and I got interested and signed on. My curiosity and appetite for knowledge made me add on one mentoring group after another in my quest to consume as much information as I could find.
I ended up participating in the Blogging, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Interior Decor, Music, Banking and Finance, Student Counselling, Investment Banking, Accounting, Administration and Human Resources (HR), Communications and Public Relations (PR), Event Planning and Organization and Marketing groups. My mentor was Charles Wundenjda.
Through the practical e-Mentoring and e-Learning sessions, I was able to bounce back from my anxiety and depression. I also learned a great deal from various mentors and networked with quite several people. I have been encouraged to do more than I had in mind before this pandemic.
The CoRe e-Mentoring has helped me to gain a broader range and better perspective on many careers than before – what they entail and their technicalities. I have also gained some helpful leadership and communication skills, learning to make modifications where necessary. My ability to balance work and personal life has improved, and I am now able to use a pragmatic approach to solve problems.
As an upcoming leader, I have also learnt to seek guidance from those who have gone ahead of me in the various paths I seek to tread. The CoRe Programme has opened my eyes to the fact that adversities are inevitable but my response to them is what makes all the difference. I have therefore resolved to be very tactical in dealing with them. I have also learnt to invest massively in my talent.
In addition to the mentoring, I also benefitted from the CoRe e-Learning sessions. For instance, the first and second episodes with Rev. Albert Ocran focused on discovering and harnessing one’s talent for service to humanity. These sessions opened my eyes and challenged me to revisit my artistic talent, which I had abandoned a few years ago.
Thanks to CoRe, I have been able to harness my potential and I am currently running a pencil painting business, which is gradually building a client base.
I am grateful for this platform which gave me the opportunity to network and expand my contacts which I believe will be beneficial someday.
I intend to put to the best possible use the various lessons I have learnt, and the experiences which the mentors shared with me. Most importantly, I intend to go all out with my art, build on my peer counselling skills and share my blessings with others.