Ashesi's Dean of Student and Community Affairs Ruth Kwakwa welcomed members of the Class of 2016 to campus during freshman move-in weekend, reassuring parents that over the next four years their sons and daughters would be a part of a great community.
Meeting with the class on Tuesday, Ruth stressed on the need for students to develop strong personal brands during their time here at Ashesi, sharing great personal stories about her experiences working in marketing and advertising.
“In 2016, if I am asked to recommend you, I should be able to know you,” Ruth said. “I won’t be able to know that you will deliver, if I haven’t seen your brand in action. Don’t just sit in one corner doing your own thing; engage other people in your interest.”
Ruth tried to prepare the class of 2016 for the thrill of the university experience, and encouraged freshmen to remember how easily wrong choices damage a personal brand.
“Of course, it’s okay to have fun! You don’t have to be a boring brand, but you want to be a brand with character," she said. "You don’t have to do ‘crazy’ things just to stand out. And you have to remember, everything you do here is going to be about choice. If you decided to spend one hour on Facebook that’s one hour you could have spent on your schoolwork. Be mindful of that trade-off!”
The Class of 2016 also met with Ashesi’s librarian, Nina Chachu, and lecturer, Kobby Graham, representatives of Ashesi’s Communications Committee, which works to create opportunities for students to express and develop their creativity and communication skills.
“Ashesi tries to give you opportunities to discover your gifts and abilities,” said Kobby, “and it’s up to you to make good use of them.”
Kobby and Nina encouraged the class to also make good use of Ashesi’s support systems in their learning, and participate in some of the activities the communications committee would be involved in this semester.
Wishing the Class of 2016 a wonderful stay at Ashesi, Dean Kwakwa said to them, “when you leave here in 2016, you want to leave with a ‘slamming’ brand, full of integrity and character."