Alumna Spotlight

We embrace our graduates as they pursue their career goals and ultimately become the successful working women and productive citizens that define the Teenshop mission. We are proud that often our alumnae return to volunteer under the leadership of the outstanding chapter officers who nurtured them.

My Time in Ghana

My name is Nicole Alston and I am a current senior at New York University and a proud alumnus of Grace Teenshop in Philadelphia, PA. This past summer I studied abroad in Accra, Ghana. I stayed there for three weeks, traveling all across the capital for the purpose of researching educational practices, structures, and cultures. The goal of the course was to understand Ghanaian educational practices to better inform my teaching techniques when I returned to the United States.

Although the trip began mainly as an academic learning experience, consisting of reading books and articles about the West African culture, it soon became a holistic experience through which I immersed myself in the culture, witnessing the grand gestures of hospitality and the astounding humility of the native people. If I walked into a room, I would be embraced with the warm greeting, "Akwaaba!!" meaning "Welcome." The children would sing, dance, and rejoice when I helped them with homework or agreed to play games with them. The great pride that they had in their culture was displayed in the dances they performed, songs they sang, and the clothes and jewelry they wore.

I learned so much about myself during this amazing journey across the globe. I would love to go back to a different part of Africa to either participate in a mission or teach there for a period of time. Without the support and encouragement of my Teenshop family, Ms. Hendley and my fellow Teenshop sisters, I would never have even considered traveling to Africa. When I entered Teenshop, I was a timid girl, unwilling to take risks and explore all the possibilities my life could hold. I am so thankful for the six years that I was involved in the Teenshop program and I will continue to work with Teenshop making sure that our girls become fearless leaders, ready to experience the great things the world has to offer.

Nicole
Grace Teenshop Alumna
Senior, New York University

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