The immediate past Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Dora Francis Edu-Buandoh has advised students to be confident irrespective of their humble beginnings especially those who attended public schools.

She gave the advice when she took her turn as a human book at the third edition of the Human Library initiative by the Sam Jonah Library of the University of Cape Coast which was on the theme, “What next after school? Exploring your job option.”

The Human Library is a library of people where readers can borrow human beings serving as open books and have conversations with them tapping into their experiences.

Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, speaking on her journey as an accomplished academician, told the students it was important for them to be confident and not feel intimidated because of their backgrounds.

“I attended public schools yet I dared to challenge myself to do my utmost without considering where I was coming from and the private schools my mates attended.”

Participants in the 3rd human library session at the Knowledge Commons of the Sam Jonah Library

She encouraged the students to exude traits of commitment, diligence, respect, perseverance, curiosity, and responsibility to reach their desired peaks in life.

Prof. Edu-Buandoh noted that becoming a teacher was not her primary option for a profession growing up. However, she decided to work towards reaching the apex of the profession when she found herself at the Komenda College of Education.

“...I told myself if I was going to become a teacher, I would push till I reached the top. So, on my journey, I became the head of the Department of English, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, the Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, and the first female Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University.”

Prof. Edu-Buandoh further noted that universities do not train students to fit into specific jobs but produce well-rounded critical thinkers who can assume different positions.

Prof. Edu-Buandoh during her presentation

“Universities give universal training for you to fit into different roles except for specific professions like medicine. You are being trained to fit into different positions and roles that may present themselves to you after school”, she explained.

She was also quick to note that in the current dispensation that the University of Cape Coast is championing the entrepreneurship drive, students need to add value to themselves by gaining both hard and soft skills necessary to ensure their holistic moulding into responsible citizens.

She reiterated the need for the students to aim at becoming economically independent, especially women, before venturing into life-long commitments such as marriage.

The participants in the Human Library were allowed to pose questions to the human book. The questions ranged from education through industry to relationships.

A student posing a question

In response to a question, Prof. Edu-Buandoh advised students to eschew all forms of envy. She said rather than being envious, they should put in the effort needed to position themselves strategically to take up offers.

The Librarian, Dr. Mac-Anthony Cobblah, in his remarks, appealed to the students to continue patronising the human library sessions the library will be holding and put to good use the bits of advice they would be offered.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC