HOW I CHANNELED MY GRIEVANCES INTO HOPE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS - by Anthoinette Ba-Innimayeh

In February 2010, I read a novel titled, “Grief Child”. It is written by a Ghanaian writer called Efo Kwadwo Mawugbe. I cried the whole day reading that book and putting myself in the shoes of the main character who suffered an unimaginable grief after losing his parents and suffering through abuse and unfairness. Even nature seemed so unfair to the main character in this novel. It tore my heart apart as I read the book. I could not imagine how I would survive such a life of grief and misery.
     Later that year, events started to occur in my own life similarly to the book I read earlier. I still did not believe things could get that bad in my little life. After surviving through my own kind of the grief, abuse and hopelessness, I assumed I could help other people rise through their struggles by simply trying to give them hope by inspiring them using my personal experiences. It started when friends will tell me how strong I have been and that simply gave me more strength to fight on. Most of my friends will seek advice from me on issues going on in their life.
      Eventually, I made it formal to help other young people by inspiring them to be thankful and chase their dreams even if there were obstacles that prevented them from pursuing them. When my goal seemed to be working somehow in Northern Ghana, I had a reason to not give up on my own life despite my daily challenges. I then decided that I will live on for others to get an inspiration to live and also help to make this shared world we live in a better place. I could have wasted my life by suicide or reckless living due to how bad my situation got, but I realized I could channel all that in a more positive way even if my struggles still give me heartaches.
Now, I have a reason to live for and to die for if that is what it takes to make other people's lives better. Until you become a victim of some kind of sufferance, you never know how important it is to survive, lend a hand or to have hope. Hope is one thing that can prevent future calamities or better still control them as they befall. As I stand on the balcony remembering all my tougher times, I appreciate all the little things that gave me hope. I see myself as a soldier, who will lead the battle against mental slavery, and seek justice for the underprivileged women and children in Ghana. Considering, how far I have come regardless of the forces that dragged me towards doom, everything is possible under this sun that lights up the earth.
       I am very thankful for all the opportunities like meeting people who motivate and also inspire me. This makes my life more meaningful. Through the Peace Corps in Ghana and some volunteers, I have gained a lot more confidence and strength that the mission I put my life on can be made possible. It is more than awesome to have the Africa’s Tomorrow scholarship to help me achieve a more powerful weapon- a higher Education. Which I can use in the battlefront of empowerment, inspiration and giving hope to other underprivileged people especially women and children in my country Ghana.
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