|
11-year-old bookworm Vida was deep into a magazine when she came across an article on Dr. Ben Carson successfully separating conjoined twins joined at the head and sharing a brain. That’s when she knew she wanted to be a medical doctor. Or so she thought. Vida grew up in a peri-urban area in Kumasi, knowing from a very young age how smart she was. She always got praised by her teachers, represented her school in competitions, and knew what she wanted to be in the future. She studied general science in senior high school and went on to study biological science at the university. It looked as if her future was obvious, with a clearly defined path. However, as passionate as she was about being a medical doctor, she didn’t know exactly how she would get there. She realized something was missing in her life - mentorship and coaching. In her final year at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, not sure what to do with the certificate she was about to earn, she confided in a friend about her uncertainties. That’s when she first heard about the Lead For Ghana Fellowship. Motivated by the competitive compensation and curiosity, she applied for the fellowship but did not make it. Undeterred, she went on to do her national service and reapplied for the fellowship. “I knew the fellowship wouldn’t only allow me to teach and make an impact, but also develop the skills I would need to succeed in my career.” Many months into the fellowship, Vida made history. Not moved by the many challenges at the Takuve D/A Basic School, she taught integrated science from the heart. She curated engaging lessons, procured the school's first microscope, test tubes, and hand lenses and set up a mini science lab, took students outside of the classroom to truly experience science, and generally made the subject loveable. It was no wonder when during her tenure, a student - a girl - scored one (1) in science in the BECE exam. The first ever in the history of the school and the community. “I never saw a microscope when I was in junior high school, so it was important for me to change the narrative.” Through the Lead For Ghana Fellowship, Vida developed a passion for education, leading her to pursue a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Valley View University. Prior to that, she and two other fellows at the Takuve D/A Basic School, with the help of funders, set up a computer lab and equipped it to enhance studies and give the students a chance at thriving in the fast-paced technological world. They also changed all chalkboards to markerboards and renovated the school’s library. She also took over the girls’ club at the school and executed many initiatives aimed at their holistic development and empowerment. Vida currently works as the Clinical Operations Lead at Craft Education, a role that combines education with science. She works with parents and caregivers of children with autism, researching behavioral science and neurodevelopmental issues, curating treatment targets, and coaching them on how to implement these treatment targets at home. In only three years, Vida has grown from a Junior Behavior Therapist into her current role, managing therapists and rapidly developing personally and professionally. She loves to help and is very passionate about the work she’s doing. She looks forward to pursuing a PhD in Curriculum Studies, and one day working with an international Non-Governmental Organization focused on special needs education. Vida believes that if our educational system includes mentorship and career guidance programs right from basic schools, we won’t only have students with aspirations - we will have career men and women with their aspirations realized. “This is a charge to all teachers, don’t just teach them to pass their exams. Help them define and develop their career paths.” And to the girls who want to get into science, Vida says “Go for it!”
|
