{
  "id": 8766871,
  "title": "My Story (Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/my-story-kwaku-antwi-boasiako",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T20:27:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/my-story-kwaku-antwi-boasiako/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dear Angel, I want you to remember a crucial truth as you embark on your secondary school education: education holds the power to transform your life. I come from a humble background, having grown up in a large yet impoverished family. Struggling to keep up with my middle school (JHS) exams, I earned the right to attend secondary school (SHS). However, First Term began before I could join my peers due to financial constraints, resulting in my missing out on crucial lessons. Upon entering Form One during Second Term, I faced a steep learning curve, attempting to grasp all the new material while simultaneously coping with the ongoing lessons. This challenge was not limited to academic subjects; even in Twi class, I endured physical reprimands from my teacher for not being present during prior instruction. Despite these hardships, I persevered and managed to pass my O-Level exams. Upon moving to Accra, I pursued my A-Levels and later enrolled at the University of Ghana Business School. Even then, life remained difficult, with moments of contemplating dropping out. Yet, my determination to succeed kept me going, fueled by the knowledge that my dedication would pay off in exams. I was fortunate to receive aid from classmates from more affluent backgrounds, who continue to be my unwavering supporters. Nevertheless, others' constant reminders of my financial struggles did not ease my burden. In my university years, my sole source of income was a student loan, which rarely sufficed to cover educational expenses and personal needs. Some nights, I went without food, yet I remained committed to studying. Upon completing my first degree, I began working immediately. Years later, I decided to pursue my MBA at the University of Leicester in England, without any scholarships, requiring me to pay the full tuition. To sustain myself, I took on various night jobs, including factory work and security officer positions, while attending daytime lectures. Despite these grueling circumstances, my sole focus remained on education, believing it would make all the difference in my life. Today, though I am neither rich nor poor, I am able to support myself, my immediate family, my elderly mother, and others as needed. Reflecting on my journey from a poor secondary school student to where I am now, I recognize that the only difference lies in education. To you, beginning your secondary school education, I advise you to concentrate on your studies and remain undistracted by social media or peer influences. The true key to changing your life, your mother's hard work supporting you, and your little sister's future is education. Hold onto this truth, make the most of this secondary education opportunity, and embrace the chance to succeed.",
  "summary": "As you begin your secondary school education, I want you to always keep this in mind: Education can make a difference in your life. I come from a poor background. Growing up in a large but poor family, life was very difficult. I worked hard to pass my middle school (JHS) exams and was duly qualified to go to secondary school (SHS). During our days, there were three school terms per academic year.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}