Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20)

Today, 28th June marks exactly 10 years since I walked across the podium of the Great Hall at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology graduating with a BA in Sociology and Social Work (First Class Honours). What a journey it has been over the past 10 years!?! Wildly beyond my thoughts and exceedingly above what I could ever have dreamt of at that time. I am so grateful and thankful to God for the manifold blessings beyond what I could ever have asked for.

So in a slide show picture essay, I want to celebrate my first decade after my first graduation with a look at all my other graduations since 2008. A big shout out to my family and friends for being there with me along the journey of many graduations…..especially to Marre, my special friend and dear wife.

May, 2008 (Republic Hall Annex, KNUST): After writing my last ever undergraduate exam paper, my roommates took me through the ritual of water pounding

 

 

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28th June, 2008 (Great Hall,Parade Grounds etc, KNUST): Graduation from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – BA Sociology and Social Work (First Class Honours)

 

 

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25th January, 2011 (The Barbican Centre, London): Graduation from King’s College London – MSc Tourism, Environment and Development (Distinction)

 

 

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17th June, 2013 (IBEI, Barcelona): Graduation from both Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals, Spain and International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands – MA International Development Policy (Higher Merit)

 

 

 

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17th July, 2017 – (Home and The Octagon, Sheffield): Graduation from University of Sheffield – PhD from Department of Urban Studies and Planning

 

 

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In the constant rush to get to the next big thing, and the next, and the next, we don’t often pause long enough to look behind at where we started from and trace our accomplishments to where we are at the moment. So now I choose to pause, to reflect and to bask in a wonderful decade of my academic journey. Sometimes I feel like being in a classroom (teaching or being taught) is all I have ever known since my parents first sent me to kindergarten. Being a student and an academic has been one of my most enduring identities and I easily find fulfilment through these identities.

 

Here is to another decade of academic fulfilment starting with this song……