Studying Abroad in Accra, Ghana Class of 2028

 Over this past summer, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Accra, Ghana, taking courses at the University of Ghana, including Cultural Engagement and Twi, one of the local languages. Immersing myself in a different culture, while learning alongside my Spelman sisters, was both joyful and eye-opening. As someone with social anxiety, I never thought I'd see myself in the spaces I was at having fun and making friends. I visited bustling markets, studied and participated in Ghanaian dance and music, and taught a class of 1–2-year-olds, which offered a meaningful window into the local educational culture. We also traveled to Cape Coast Castle and followed parts of the slave route tour, gaining a deeper understanding of the transatlantic slave trade's human impact.

Walking the paths enslaved Africans once took to their "last bath." standing in those waters and choosing to complete sections of the journey barefoot were profoundly emotional experiences. At the castle, we descended into the dungeons, confronted the hardened layers of human excrement on the floors, and passed through the Door of No Return, now paired with a "Door of Return" to honor descendants' homecoming. We learned about native plants that close when touched, revealing how even the landscape could betray those seeking freedom. This kind of insight one can only truly gain by stepping outside a comfort zone and fully immersing in different cultures. I could never give this experience the praise it deserves, it was greater than words, which is why I will continue to implore my sisters to seriously consider study abroad. It is something you will not regret. 

Janiah Collier