Q & A With Intern Emmanuel
Today we were able to sit down with our Operations Intern Emmanuel Anane-Poku Karikari. He was able to give us a bit of insight on how Exponential Education has affected his life and professional development.
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Emmanuel, I am from Ejisu, Ashanti Region. I am the third born of my parents of five in total. I completed JHS at Ejisu Model School and then I completed SHS in 2015 at Adu Gyamfi Senior High School in Agona-Jamasi. I play the trumpet in a large band called Vibes of Levite Crew.
2. How did you first get involved with Expo?
Back in 2012 I started SHS in Abenase at school called Youth Institute of Science and Technology. Current Expo Board Member, Amber Shevin was my teacher and she introduced the program to me. I was then selected to be one of the first six tutors to participate in the Peer to Peer (P2P) program at that school. I then moved to Adu Gyamfi Senior High School and I was a tutor again, so I was a tutor for three terms in total. I began my position as the Operations Intern shortly after I graduated SHS in May 2015.
3. What have you learned most from being an intern with Expo?
Being an intern with Expo has helped me develop my public speaking skills, as I am naturally a quiet guy. By giving Twi lessons, meeting with tutors and headmasters/headmistresses, I have gained confidence in working with others. I have also been able to take on leadership roles working with Expo such as meeting with schools to pay scholarship fees. It makes me feel good to help others.
4. What has been one of the most challenging aspects of working with Expo?
Sometimes when I am meeting with the headmasters/headmistresses of schools to talk about programming, they do not take me seriously because I am a young person. I usually mitigate this through explaining more about the program and the benefits it has to being included in our schools.
5. If you could give one piece of advice to young Ghanaians what would it be?
I would tell them to never stop believing that anything is possible. My life as a testimony, when I completed JHS I had heard of the difficulties of making it through SHS, and was nervous to start on that aspect of my life. However, believing that anything is possible I worked my way through SHS resulting in a very successful experience thanks to the support of those around me and a positive attitude.
6. What is your career path for after Expo?
I have always dreamt of becoming a Doctor in the future, after studying hard for the WASSCE (West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination) I will wait for my results to come out in December. Hopefully by next year I will be studying at University!
