I haven’t written in a while. Here’s why. February Black History Month. The Wellesley African Student’s Association (WASA) held Africa Week during February. For the first time since I had set foot in the United States, I was excited to be involved with the activities they planned. I found my niche with WASA. I got … Continue reading USAP Perspectives: Check In – Spring 2018
USAP Perspectives: The Trivial First Step That Shapes The Future
A significant transition surely takes long to be fully executed,but the decision to stay captive to the desire for positive change is made in the flicker of a single heartbeat. It only takes that trivial first step from one mind state to another to ignite the whole person to move towards positive change. My coming … Continue reading USAP Perspectives: The Trivial First Step That Shapes The Future
USAP Perspective: Check In – Jan 2018
It’s the weekend before our first day of the spring semester. How do I feel? Well, mixed feelings mostly. On one hand, I cannot wait to see my friends and roommates again, to experience that buzz that college has when its students are on campus. On the other hand, and I know it’s selfish of … Continue reading USAP Perspective: Check In – Jan 2018
USAP 2018 Applications Are Out!
The applications for the 2018 USAP Zimbabwe Program are out! We are looking for determined, bright, students from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds who have just started their U6 final year of high school and will be writing A levels in 2018. This new cohort of USAP students will begin the program during their April holidays, and work … Continue reading USAP 2018 Applications Are Out!
USAP Perspective: Check In – December 2017
My host’s living room. It is three days after my first white Christmas. The snow just won’t melt because of the below freezing conditions we have been experiencing for a few days after the snow fell. The sun trickles in through the windows which makes me smile. It is so sunny yet so cold. I … Continue reading USAP Perspective: Check In – December 2017
USAP Perspective: Surround Yourself With People Who Are Good For You
My first semester at Penn has been enriched with wonderful experiences that I have been blessed to enjoy. I am grateful for having gone through this first semester and made it out alive! There are tonnes of things that I have learned but the lesson that comes close to my heart is: Surround yourself with people … Continue reading USAP Perspective: Surround Yourself With People Who Are Good For You
USAP Perspectives: 2017 Looking Back
It’s not even real. 2017 cannot be coming to an end. Despite the gap seven months I had between high school and university, the entire year was still a whirlwind of activity. For the first half of the year, I could have easily kept myself in the world’s waiting room, standing in line for the … Continue reading USAP Perspectives: 2017 Looking Back
USAP Perspectives: Take a Risk – Dance!
Imagine this scenario. I am a thick-boned, black girl standing in a break dancing formation amongst Asian boys. All eyes are on us in anticipation of a frenzy of back flips and life defying stunts. However, I have never danced in my life except for that one time at my aunt’s wedding in 2012. I … Continue reading USAP Perspectives: Take a Risk – Dance!
USAP Bootcamp: The View from Zambia
Having travelled out of my home country for the first time, I hardly believed my experience out there. Through the windows of the King Lion bus on the way to Harare, I could see fresh large water bodies, grasslands, mines and also small monkeys. While in Zimbabwe, I had the best time with my USAP … Continue reading USAP Bootcamp: The View from Zambia
USAP Perspectives: The Simple Things
When someone tells you that you need to appreciate the simple things in life because there is a chance you could lose it all, you might probably think the following: “Lamest cliché ever…” “That will never happen to me…” “Seriously? Do I look that gullible to you?” “Someone grab a pizza to spread all this … Continue reading USAP Perspectives: The Simple Things