The Collegian 3-4-15

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March 4, 2015 VOLUME 31

NO.4 Visit online at www.collegiannews.com

Follow us on Twitter! @GPCollegian THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE STUDENTS SINCE 1987

Kwadwo Kojo: From housekeeping to the White House

“Everything takes time, the classes you take here are no different at any other school,” said Kojo. “I spent two years here and two years at Emory and took upper level neuroscience classes, and I am leaving Emory with a higher GPA than when I first left GPC.” Photo by Tosin Ogunnoiki, The Collegian.

By Joseph Richardson Staff Writer

K

wadwo Kojo, a man whose humility is paired elegantly with his ambition, was once a GPC student and is now running a successful business by pursuing his dream. Kojo’s story started a little different from the common student. He came to the United States in 2009 from Ghana and worked at Wal-Mart and as a housekeeper at a hospital. In 2011, Kojo decided to attend GPC at the Clarkston campus and pursue his education. Kojo attended a university in Ghana, so there was a slight culture shock at GPC. Because most of his friends were graduating and moving on to other schools, Kojo was ready to move on from GPC as well. “My attitude when I attended

GPC was that I wanted to come in and leave as fast as I can,” said Kojo. “I did not want to do any business or research here, but I don’t want people to think that way. I want them to actually expand.” Attending class was not the only thing that he participated in during his tenure at GPC. Kojo took full advantage of extra-curricular programs to maximize his efforts as a student. Participating in programs like STEP, a program contained within STEM changed his outlook on GPC and his education. He decided to stay at GPC and receive his Associate’s degree and then transfer. The STEP program and its many professors helped the aspiring student to power through school and make the right decisions about his education. Kojo put emphasis on how powerful extra-curricular

activities were to him and how every student should take advantages of their opportunities. “Part of success in college is to find things outside of academics that make you happy,” said Kojo. “Ms. Naranja Davis, the coordinator for the STEP program, actually pushed me to do research my last semester here at GPC, and I loved it.” Kojo advises students to be passionate about what you do as a student, that whatever you do, make sure that you are serious and it is something that you genuinely love. During the extra time he spent at GPC for research, Kojo came up with an idea for a business that blossomed rather quickly. After realizing how important the research that he obtained during his time at GPC, Kojo realized that not everybody is fortunate enough to have the same research opportunities

he was able to obtain. He made it his goal to offer research opportunities to students in Ghana and break the massive gender deficit of research students in Ghana. With much diligence, Kojo successfully started his business and gained national attention. With smooth sailing on the business side, he took classes at Georgia Tech for chemical engineering and at Emory University for neuroscience to continue his academic success. Kojo emphasizes on how being patient with his education paid off. “Everything takes time, the classes you take here are no different at any other school,” said Kojo. “I spent two years here and two years at Emory and took upper level neuroscience classes, and I am leaving Emory with a higher GPA than when I first left GPC.” Shortly after the startup of the business, Kojo

received an email from the presidential cabinet. “At first I thought it was a scam so I ignored it, but after contacting an official from Ghana I realized it was not a scam, and actually gained the opportunity again to attend, so I did,” said Kojo. Last year, he visited the White House and met with various cabinet members to discuss research. The presidential visits did not end at the White House, Kojo has a scheduled visit with the Clintons in the near future in Miami, Fla. From house cleaning to the White House, all it took was a dream. The final thoughts from Kojo were, “My business started as a dream, if you have an idea, write it down and follow up on it, because you never know what can happen. If you’re passionate about something, you will get it done.”

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