Undergraduate / He who does not know where he is coming from will never get to his destination. [5]

Harvey mudd. How has your own background influenced the types of problems you want to solve?

"Experience is the best teacher"

In Akan, there is an old saying: "He who does not know where he is coming from will never get to his destination." I've always believed that the environment and a person's upbringing are what shape his tendencies, characteristics, and qualities. I keep my roots in mind every day in my pursuits, goals, and ambitions.

Although my family was a middle income type, it managed to send my two siblings and me to Catholic primary schools and junior high schools respectively, stressing the importance of what they believed to be high quality education. My parents constantly encouraged me to study hard notwithstanding the financial constraint of the family.

After my father died during my last year in junior high school, I began to notice the strains of my tuition fees on my mother. As a restaurant waitress, she began to work overtime and became so furious when a shift was cancelled. I therefore made the decision to go to a public high school. That was still insufficient to alleviate the situation. She had difficulty coping with the educational expenses of me and my siblings. Things even got worse when my younger brother was diagnosed of diabetes. I couldn't bear the hardship we were going through, so during vacations I would work as a sales boy in several Telecommunication Networks and also as a part-time cleaner in restaurants during the night to supplement her income.

Notwithstanding the economic hardship, I was never relentless in my studies. I was still making the grades as expected of every student. Almost every teacher recommended me to the National Science and Math Quiz coordinator to train me for the competition. My tenacity as a determined student flourished when I become the head of the Science and Math Quiz team. My perseverance and hard work paid off when I took the school to the final stage of the competition and won the ultimate prize for the Science and Math Quiz team.

I learnt a lesson when I faced all those financial struggles. I realized that in life some people need support to move on although I never received support of any sort during my early stages of my education. With the financial package I received upon winning the cup for me school and a little support from friends, I established a foundation. This foundation seeks to support the educational needs of students who are determined to substantiate their dreams. It also motivates students who are academically good but discouraged by their financial status. I strongly believe that helping a student today can generate a ripple effect in some days to come.

I also believe that every student in every class at Harvey Mudd College has something special to offer only if they can draw something from their experience. I've now come to understand my late father's saying, "Experience is the best teacher".