Beyond Regularity, Towards Disparity

Ghana has been a beautiful country. Ever since my birth, I have fallen in love with this place every single day. It’s this place that gave me wings, gave me courage to explore things beyond my reach. It’s this amazing country which let me aspire and achieve despite limitations my way.

I am the only girl born amongst five siblings to my wonderful parents who have put forth education above everything. Pre-school, high school and university – it’s been a journey unpredictable. I have always been privileged to have everything I have ever wanted and if not, I have been always taught to earn it for myself. For every limitation and obstacle, I have been encouraged to break the barriers in every little way I could.

Never too big, not too small – I have sailed on a journey of my own. For every chance I have got, I have escaped to the nearest getaway I could. And oh, these little escapes! They are a story to tell. Public transports here, mostly buses are one hell of a ride. Rash and jerks, it has always scared my life out of me. But I must admit, the journey is always worth the pain. The adventure, the thrill, it’s something that lets my heart beat. And I dream of taking so many journeys, inscribing my travelogues all over, letting people know that the world is mine as much as theirs.

I have been an introvert all my life, could never form any deeper connections with anyone, not many of friends and I could never go beyond academics. Traveling whenever I could, with limited budget and whatever options available – is something that lets me explore everything beyond the regular life I am expected to live. Though I have had limited interactions with people, I am always looking forward to meet new people, explore their experiences through their stories and write my own.

It’s not really that I am limited by anything in particular, not that I don’t have supportive parents, not that I am not privileged to education supposedly living in a developing country. But it’s the regularity that’s imposed upon students like me, the vicious cycle of getting a good education in order to get a job and repeat on survive with a daily struggle to put things up, that is the very limitation that’s not seen as one.

It’s a popular perception that getting settled and being privileged means a reputed degree and a well paying job. Well, where are the privileges of letting things go and explore the seas and cliffs, to chase my happiness, to be a curious human and taking steps as I deem fit irrespective of what’s perfect in popular opinion.

Well, I am a happy person most of the times, I feel to be privileged. The opportunities that are coming my way, pursuing my undergrad in Computer Engineering in a reputed institute here in Ghana, are great – it offers me a secured future, possibly a good pay in future. I am also looking forward to apply for higher studies in Ivy Leagues. It’s so much that I already am and trying to be. It’s just that I want to be a little human with experiences first. You know, someone who could tell stories in their older days, offering insights in experiences around the world? That kind of person beyond my academic degrees and high profile jobs. Much more than a regular supposedly ‘settled and privileged’ life after my college and I know, I can be one.

Barriers or Stereotypes are not just excessively oppressive rules against one’s being, it’s also the regularity what popular opinions bind us with. And to know, to believe that I can break them with my curiosity and courage to explore, I am extremely ambitious to live a life as such.

I, Floxy Narteh, refuse to be just a regular being. I, Floxy Narteh, accept to be my own chief in control to live life my way, to be an explorer and much more. I, Floxy Narteh, embrace my happiness beyond the regular smile. I, Floxy Narteh, promise myself to be the Floxy Narteh.