{"id":5146,"date":"2020-06-29T09:24:01","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T09:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/international\/?p=5146"},"modified":"2020-06-29T09:24:01","modified_gmt":"2020-06-29T09:24:01","slug":"sunshine-rain-orchid-adventure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/international\/sunshine-rain-orchid-adventure\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunshine, Rain and an Orchid – My Adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"

My adventure from Ghana to the University of Westminster started almost a year ago now when I decided to undertake a master\u2019s degree in International Development Management<\/a>. I fell in love with this course the day I volunteered with International Service UK back in Ghana. From that moment, I decided to pursue my change of career path into International Development Management. My name is Narian Lincoln, and this is my London adventure of sunshine, rain and an orchid plant.<\/p>\n

I have just left my former abode on Baker Street, where our Marylebone campus<\/a> is located, in central London. The campus is virtually a walking distance to the popular Oxford Street<\/a>, a vibrant shopping street that attracts many international tourists. It\u2019s a lovely day today at my new home in Willesden Green. Thoughts fill my mind as I glance through the window watching the sunshine. Then the next minute, the raindrops fall, and then the sunbeams spring up again. I find it fascinating! It’s funny now to look back on how during the London winter, every time I stepped outside the cold wind made my eye extremely teary. One special memory I will always remember is the day I visited Buckingham palace and decided to walk my way back to Baker Street.\u00a0I was so proud of myself.<\/p>\n

Volunteering<\/h2>\n

\"Sunshine,<\/p>\n

With volunteering changing the course of my career path, I decided to volunteer with a number of organisations in the UK as well. My first voluntary experience was in my early days in London at the One Young World 2019<\/a> summit for change-makers. I had actually previously applied to attend this summit whilst in Ghana but wasn\u2019t selected. Upon being in London and discovering via LinkedIn that they needed volunteers, I just said “hurray!”. Investing my time in making it a success was very rewarding.<\/p>\n

I also tried volunteering in other areas like fundraising, but I realised it required further processes. So in the end, I had to give up on fundraiser volunteering. During this Covid-19 times, I have been volunteering with City Harvest<\/a>\u00a0a charity that makes sure foodstuff doesn\u2019t go to waste. Instead, food is channeled to charities and people that need it the most. Thanks to City Harvest, lockdown doesn\u2019t mean a food supply shortage for the needy. I really admire the initiative because unlike some hospitality companies I\u2019ve worked with, whose regulations allowed leftover food to go to the bin, at City Harvest, food is precious.<\/p>\n

Incredible new friends to share my adventure with<\/h2>\n

\"Sunshine,<\/p>\n

“It reminds me that people can be loving and that kindness does still exist and can be shown by everyone across the world.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One remarkable solace has been the friendship my coursemates and I have found through meeting on our master’s degree course. This still continues even in our new Zoom<\/em> world. We soon realised that our class was solely international students and was the best place to make incredible new friends. We’ve enjoyed many social events and fun times together going to the cinema, a visit to\u00a0Southwark Park<\/a>, and Wetherspoons to relax in a warm and lively atmosphere.<\/p>\n

And of course, I won\u2019t ever forget 28th<\/sup> February, that\u2019s my birthday you know. Who was there with a surprise? My classmates of course. Haha. I remember, we received a cheesecake in class one day, and upon tasting it, I said \u2018Oh my God, that\u2019s my favourite cake!\u2019 I never stopped talking about that cheesecake!. So on my birthday, I received one with a beautiful Orchid Plant from the class. One friend who presented the plant said she chose it because an orchid plant is gentle and resilient, like me. I can still gaze at the plant as I type these words. It reminds me that people can be loving and that kindness does still exist and can be shown by everyone across the world. And not only from people we’ve known for decades.<\/p>\n

Celebrating Ghana, the Westminster Mentoring Scheme, and Employability Award<\/h2>\n

\"Sunshine,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unfortunately due to Covid-19 striking, I wouldn\u2019t say I have taken full advantage of what London has to offer yet. But I did manage to attend the Princes\u2019 Trust Future Leaders Programme with FlyingStartXP<\/a>.\u00a0 This program opened me up to my skills, who I am, and the values I uphold for future employment decisions.<\/p>\n

The last event I attended before the closure of the university was a Ghana themed African day, where I invited my class. And of course, they didn\u2019t disappoint. Along with displays of traditional Ghanaian clothing and cultures, the ever-inspiring African Rep and Westminster lecturer, Madam Irene Brew-Riverson<\/a> and I gave presentations on Ghana’s cultures and traditions.<\/p>\n

I was also privileged to be paired with an incredible mentor with the Westminster Mentoring Scheme<\/a>. Well, don\u2019t think I\u2019m using incredible because I am writing this post, no. My mentor really made me realise how to pursue mentoring in the future. The Westminster Mentoring<\/a> Scheme is a great platform to make a personal connection with someone in the UK with experience in your field and career path. I also finished the Westminster Employability Award<\/a> under lockdown and was awarded a silver.<\/p>\n

Memories from my London adventure<\/h2>\n

\"Sunshine,<\/p>\n

There are many new speaking customs in the UK that I have learnt during my London adventure. Stand out examples include how everyone uses “sorry”, instead of “excuse me”. Also, how people say “cheers” and “thank you” to the bus driver.<\/p>\n

Once when grocery shopping, a shop assistant asked me if I wanted a bag. I raised my eyebrow and said “of course I do”. But then they told me that\u2019s 5p for a bag, I said “whaaat? Pay for the bag?” At the time that was shocking. I now have tons of bags, but I do still forget sometimes, but it\u2019s all good.<\/p>\n

The Future<\/h2>\n

With the\u00a0Black Lives Matter<\/a>\u00a0movement popping up, we all need join in, both us and our allies. In the current globalised world where Sustainable Development Goals advocate for partnerships, it’s necessary that the conversation on inequalities, systematic racism and the current form of colonialism and imperialism be forthcoming. Thus, bringing us all on the same level striving to achieve a better world. My headmistress sometime back would have said that when people are flying to the moon, we shouldn\u2019t even have been calling for equality. I would agree because the world is more modernised now, with 5G and all the stuff evolving. No one should be judged and treated by the colour of their skin. Let’s educate ourselves , let’s unlearn and keep relearning.<\/p>\n

Studies everywhere is tough, and it\u2019s a committed mind that passes through. The celebration ahead, the graduation to come, and the role to play in that dream organisation to make an impact, is what keeps us striving, thriving and surviving. To be continued\u2026<\/p>\n

My name is Narian Lincoln. Live a life worth living and help others live the same.<\/p>\n

Cheers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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