When teenaged Sonia Dzifa Tamakloe accompanied her elder brother to his graduation at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) in 2012, little did she know she would find herself at the same institution as a postgraduate student, 9 years on, and even emerge the Overall Best Graduate Student in her year group.
Sonia, a product of Fijai Senior High School in Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region, also picked up the Overall Best Graduating Student prize for MBA in Total Quality Management at the 13th Congregation of the university held on Saturday, 24th July 2021.
Speaking shortly after the 2021 graduation ceremony, the bubbly young woman who aspires to be a legal practitioner, disclosed that her achievement was a dream come true even though it came with a lot of hard work.
She was confident that the theoretical knowledge and real-world experience garnered over the two-year period would equip her for the uncertain world of work and propel her to higher heights.
“Perseverance, determination, forward thinking, optimism, humility, and above all trusting in God are keys to break forth from the shell of fear and strive to pursue one’s dream,” she says.
Recounting her journey into UPSA, Miss Tamakloe said she was inspired by her brother to pursue a master’s degree, and to her, UPSA was the ideal choice because she had “fallen in love” with the institution ever since she visited the UPSA campus almost decade ago.
“I also believe UPSA had a lot to offer its graduates, judging from how most of her graduates are occupying key positions [both in the public and private sectors] and performing creditably in the business world,” the visibly elated graduate said.
She revealed that although she initially received the news of her admission with both excitement and confusion due to some personal and work-related issues, her decision to quit her job as a Customer Service Officer in the banking sector to further her education has eventually paid off.
Even though Sonia currently runs a research and consultancy firm on part-time basis where she trains young graduates in business operations, management, administration, customer service, research and supply chain management, she says she is open to new opportunities.
“I desire to join a poised team in a well-recognised organisation that gives opportunity to young professionals to explore and to thrive.
Again, she says she is looking forward to pursuing a PhD in the coming years, and also hopes to expand her consultancy firm as a long term goal.
For Sonia, coming this far did not come on a silver platter as she expressed her gratitude to God and her family whom she described as her “key motivators in life”. She also thanked her lecturers and colleagues, especially her study partners, for challenging her to greater pinnacles.
