Nana Yaa Dodi
Major: Business & Political Science
Graduation Year: 2007
Grew up in: Ghana, West Africa
What's your background?
I'm from Ghana, West-Africa. I'm the eldest of three children, with a younger brother and sister. I grew up in an industrial city of Tema along the coast of Ghana.
Why did you decide to come to Calvin?
My ideal college was something that wasn't too large in size, had a good number of international students, was located in or close to the city and had high academic standards.
Calvin wasn't on that list when I started my search. My guidance counselor added it, calling it one of the "best Christian colleges." I thought in reply, "Christian?" For some reason, I felt that since I was already a Christian, there was no need to enroll in a Christian college. Besides, I had just completed three years of Catholic boarding school. “I must already know what it means to integrate my faith and my learning?” Then again, I thought, religiously affiliated schools weren't as competitive as non-religious ones. I couldn't have been more wrong.
A closer look at Calvin convinced me that faith and academic work could mesh without sacrificing academic excellence. I was drawn by the friendly admissions staff and their caring attitude made me feel that maybe, I could find another “family” at Calvin. Going away from my real home, the possibility of finding a "home away from home" was very important to me.
After considering the Christian background to learning, small class sizes, reasonable tuition costs (after financial aid), the number of Africans, especially Ghanaians and, of course, the snowy Michigan weather, I made my decision.
Was your transition to Calvin difficult?
Like it is for many others, the transition to college was not easy. Excited as I was to begin studying in a foreign country, the anxiety of living in a different culture didn't escape me. Orientation gave me an outlet, helping me to make new friends and learn about Calvin in the process. One of my professors supported me in times when I felt everything was too new and hard. The community I felt from a campus Bible study group and my roommates made a difference, holding me up during my first year and today.
Once I adjusted, I began to enjoy my friendships and school work more. Determined not to keep my circle of friends limited to Ghanaians, I made friends from other cultures. It thrills me to think of my friends from about 15 countries now, including America . The experience enriches me, challenging me to think about the culture I knew as I see it through others' eyes.
What was your academic experience at Calvin like?
I was challenged everyday in the classroom. The workload did not break me, but it put pressure on me to do my best. I found, in difficult times, that I had more in me than I thought!
It's amazing how an academic experience also hones our character if we allow it. Some class discussions taught me what I couldn't learn from sitting behind my textbooks. Drawing relationships between my studies and the Bible showed me that God's word cuts across every area of my life. It is possible to be Christian and be an influential politician or a successful business woman. The worlds of academics and faith do blend.
How did you get involved at Calvin?
In my freshman year, I wrote for Chimes , the college newspaper. I later became the News Editor and moved on to become the Editor in Chief of the paper in my junior year. Chimes was by far the most valuable leadership and cultural experience of my college journey.
I found other opportunities through the Pathway to Possibilities program, a part of Calvin's pre-college programs for minority students and later served as secretary of the International Student Committee. I co-emceed Rangeela in my first year, worked with Rosemary and Jo as an International Admissions Student Assistant, joined a Spring Break recruiting team for Calvin, took a two-week interim trip to the United Nations and completed two summer internships.
These and other experiences built my confidence, clarified the career path that I may take and improved my interpersonal and leadership skills.