AN INTERVIEW WITH PARRENDAH ADWOA KPELI – PAST BENEFICIARY

My Name is Parrendah Adwoa Kpeli. I am a Lecturer at Knutsford University College, a Chartered Accountant, and a third-year Ph.D. candidate reading Accounting. I was a beneficiary of the Educational Pathways International (EPI) Scholarship from 2012 to 2016. I received a comprehensive scholarship and mentorship support to complete my BSc. Accounting degree with a first class (FGPA 3.72) in 2016.

I am the last of six siblings (3 sisters and two step-brothers). I grew up in a family house in Accra. My father is a retired Auto Mechanic and my mother a petty trader. My older siblings couldn’t get admission into the university. I was able to make 7 straight A’s and a B in my WASSCE, low and behold when I got admission to read my dream programme at the University of Ghana, the family income was barely enough to sustain the home and it couldn’t fund my university education. I had to find an alternative means of getting my first degree or abandon that dream. I am currently the only daughter with a university degree.

I was desperate to get a first degree. I knew within me that getting my bachelor’s would change my story. But then, there was no one at home earning a consistent income close to my annual tuition and accommodation fees. In fact, my application forms and first-year school fees were covered by a complete stranger. I had a lot of “what next questions” on my mind after. When I saw the EPI call for sponsorship on the University of Ghana financial aid web page, I saw my way to redemption.

If I had not been given the scholarship, things would have been difficult, however, the next alternative would have been to apply for a student’s loan or find part-time work to support my tuition. I was too desperate to consider quitting.

With the EPI scholarship, I did not only get financial assistance but mentorship and a family. I had all round help. There was money, academic support, someone to talk to on any form of challenges and good company made up of equally needy and gifted students who had the aspirations of making it in life at all costs. This support brought me the relief and drive I needed to study hard.

The conditional offer in the scholarship letter stated that I had to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA every semester to continue benefiting from the scholarship award. As I was not willing to lose the award, the safest way for me was to target a higher GPA every semester. I will say the only social life I had was the one with my EPI friends in the business school, we challenged each other, attended classes regularly, and studied together. That was how I completed with a final GPA of 3.72.

I am currently a full-time Lecturer at Knutsford University College and a Ph.D. candidate studying Accounting. I am in the third year now. I hope to complete my Ph.D. dissertation soon. It is my dream to become a Professor of Accounting and Finance as well as a Business Consultant making an impact in my home country and across the globe. I will definitely love to own my funding agency in the near future. I believe education is the best gift you can give anyone and money should never be a constraint to that.

Educational Pathways International (EPI) saw potential in me and decided to develop that potential. I wouldn’t have come this far or enjoy the subsequent benefits of a first-class if not for the full support the scholarship gave me. I appreciate the mentorship, the counseling sessions, and the financial support. The present bonding among the EPI Alumni and the connection built over the years is overwhelming.