Marilyn Dankyi

Ghana

Together

The transition from Junior High School (JHS) to Senior High School (SHS) in the Ghanaian context is one every student eagerly anticipates. One of the exciting things about SHS in Ghana is meeting new people from different countries, cultures, religions, and beliefs.

Preparation for sports events was one of the tedious times in SHS. It meant jogging down at the wailing of the 5 a.m. siren as a form of training for athletes. It also meant extra time to be spent on the school field after the close of school. We loved sports, but it required the sacrifice of time, which was very limited considering our schedule. The exciting part of our sports, however, was the day of our inter-house competitions. Everyone had a role to play. The athletes did their bit on the field while others cheered them on. Others also ensured that they were well-fed and injury-free. Inter-house was an opportunity that brought us together regardless of our different backgrounds and beliefs. The Ghanaian girl would cheer the girl from Benin as if they were sisters. The Muslim would run to hug the Christian for performing well. Together, we learned that we could do more when we put our differences aside.