The 12th of November marked a defining moment in my leadership journey. During the graduation ceremony at Liberia’s premier foreign service institute, the Director General mentioned that 48 candidates did not meet the passing mark on the entrance exam. Well… hi, my name is Alphia, and I was proudly Candidate Number “Did-Not-Pass.”
There were questions on that exam, like international conferences and some terms that sounded like they came straight out of a UN dictionary, that I had never seen before. But the Institute saw potential in how we answered the few questions we did understand (thank God for those ones!) and offered us remedial classes.
I embraced that opportunity wholeheartedly. After completing the remedial program, I passed the exam and earned my place in the main program. By the end of my first trimester, my GPA soared, and one of my instructors recommended me for the prestigious Suakoko Program for female diplomats.
Today, I didn’t just graduate — I graduated listed amongst those with the highest honors, earning a 3.5–4.0 GPA and receiving my Postgraduate Diploma in Multilateral Diplomacy.
From remedial to excellence. From uncertainty to honor. This is the journey I carry with me.
#AlphiaOfAfrica #LearningAndLeadership
