The Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Prof. Abednego F. O. Amartey on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, delivered an inspiring speech to students of La Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS) during a working visit.
He urged the students to make choices that would shape their future development, as he emphasized the importance of decision-making in determining one’s destiny.
“Where you are now is the best time to make the right choices because the choices you make will determine the future you are going to have,” he said.
“When you see a person at a certain level, it is a summary of the choices the person has made.”
Prof. Amatey, attended La Presby Boys’ Middle School, whose former premises are now occupied by the La Presby SHS.
With the aim of uplifting young minds and fostering a sense of ambition, Prof. Amartey shared his personal journey and highlighted the transformative power of education.
Drawing from his own experiences as a student, he stated that despite coming from a poor background, he managed to overcome adversity and went on to achieve great feats through hard work and determination.
“I remember trekking all the way from my house to this premises in a tattered uniform but I was not deterred by how I looked,” he reminisced. “I was determined to learn hard and pass my exams and that was all I did.”
Prof. Amartey mentioned that setbacks and challenges are merely stepping stones on the path to success. Therefore, students should not be deterred by temporary failures but view them as opportunities for growth.
The inspiring words of Prof. Amartey kindled a spark of determination in the hearts of the students, fueling their ambitions and instilling in them the belief that they can accomplish great things in life.
As part of the visit, Prof. Amartey made a personal donation of 300 mathematical sets and pens to the students who are preparing for the West African Senior Secondary School Examinations.
The event also provided an opportunity for SHS students to engage in a Q&A session with UPSA faculty members.
The UPSA team responded with great enthusiasm, offering valuable advice and guidance to each student taking them through the institution’s programmes, scholarship awards and other educational opportunities accessible to prospective students, including the free-tuition policy on all professional programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor was accompanied to the school by Ms Ivy Heward-Mills, Deputy Public Affairs Director, Dr Ibn Kailan Abdul-Hamid, Head of the Department of Marketing, Judith Serwaa Adjei, Assistant Registrar at Public Affairs Directorate and Mr Thomas Appiah Kubi Asante, Assistant Registrar and School Officer, Weekend School.
