Lucy's Article: Back in School in Ghana After Being Stuck at Home
Article #10 in the YCC Kids Club Ghana Student Life Stories Project
Re-Entering School After Three Years At Home
By Lawani Lucy, Age 13
After a long period of living in my precious home feeling very lonely, my parents decided that I should continue my primary education.
From the age of seven to the age of ten, I could not attend school because I was sick in my leg and could not walk. After my former classmates finished school each day, they would come visit my house and share their class notes with me. But it was not the same as being in class myself.
"You will be going to school now," said my mother at last. Suddenly, I became scared.
"Wow," I thought. "I will not go!" I told my mum.
But I decided after a few days that I did need to go to school. School is important, they say. On that day, my first day back in school, I was the age of ten.
"You should behave like a big girl there," boomed my father at the top of his loud, vibrating voice. "Do not cry!" So on that day, I decide to wear my favourite dress, which is a yellow skirt and a blue shirt.
I jumped into the car and off we went, on our way. I was spying out the window the whole time to see whether or not we had reached our destination, and at long last we arrived!
We all got out of the car and went directly to the headmaster's office to have an interview. At the interview, I answered every question. The headmaster looked right at me and said, "You are a brilliant girl." I felt so good!
After that I entered the Grade One classroom with great fear, but the students were lovely. They all sang to me: "You are welcome!" I didn't know what to say, so I just sat down in the place where there was a desk, and immediately the teacher entered the classroom and gave me a better place to sit.
On that day, Christmas holidays were beginning, so we could not begin learning yet. At about one o'clock, the bell was rung for the assembly and we said our last prayer for the day, heard some announcements, and all headed home.
In January, after the holidays, I headed back to school. But I had already forgotten the actual classroom, so I went to sit in the Stage Two classroom by accident! At last I realized that that place was not my classroom and so I ran to my real, new classroom.
I had fun together with my classmates before the teacher arrived, and when she did arrive she decided to conduct a test for us. In this test I scored a ninety percent!
The teacher praised me that day for being the best student, and she said that I would be class prefect. I had been out of school for three years, but I was now the lead student in charge of all of my peers!
After school closing I quickly ran home and told my mum all about my success at school. My mother smiled wide and cheered: "Keep it up!" and she bought some egg for me to eat.
Three years later, I am still keeping it up and getting wonderful grades, both at school, and at extra after-school classes at the YCC Kids Club. I have made my mum -- and myself -- proud! And I am so glad I am back in school.
Lillie's Note: Please leave an encouraging comment or question for Lucy, stating the geographical place you are writing from!
The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 4.2 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!
This is a great story! I love how much you thought your education was important and how you wore your favorite dress, because that's what I would do. I hope you are recovering well!
Hopefully you're all recovered now and that you are healthy. I know that you are really smart and brave from what I read in the article. Have a nice time in school and good luck to you! Hopefully you are having a great and fun time at school.
I'm very proud of Lucy, she faced her fears and she did extremely well school especially on her first year. Which is amazing and she went at the age of ten. She's seems really brilliant and smart. I hope she's continues doing the same or better!
Lucy & Ms. Marshall,
I loved reading your story, Lucy! I find it so interesting to read someone's writing who lives so far away from me and in such a cool place where everything is so different compared to what happens here! I think it is so inspiring how you were out of school for so long, yet you had the courage to go back and start again. You look so happy in the pictures- maybe going back to school did that to you! Good luck with everything!
I'm glad you did so well in school even after being out of school for so long.
Anonymous said...
Hi Lucy,
I am from Great Britain and I think you are a brilliant and brave girl. It's so cool that you are back at school and doing so well. What's your favourite subject? I'm a writer so I've always loved English. I love to read and write, and it looks like you're great at English too!
Keep up the good work and the future is yours for the taking!
Best wishes
Lara
February 25, 2010 3:50 PM
Luddy Sr. said...
Wow what a great story Lucy! Your determination is very impressive. As is your parents for their encouragement and your classmates for bringing you notes from class when you were out and welcoming you back to school so warmly.
Keep up the great work. I know you will Lucy.
Kwabla (Connecticut, USA)
February 26, 2010 6:55 AM
Anonymous said...
HI Lucy,
I live in Cincinnati, Ohio in the United States. I'm a teacher working with kids who are from 8 to 10 years old. You showed a lot of courage returning to school and how wonderful to have parents who recognize the importance of getting an education. You shared how important it was to feel welcomed by the other kids and how the teacher's compliments helped you to to feel comfortable and proud. Your hard work and positive attitude will help you throughout your life. I bet you help others around you by sharing positive words with them too.
Mary Pat
February 27, 2010 2:34 PM
Anonymous said...
Hi! It is Lovely Lucy!
How is life? Well, I just want to thank you for your great comments. So you know, my best subjects are English and Science because I want to be a doctor. Wow-- thanks again for your comments!
- Lovely Lucy
March 9, 2010 9:12 AM
You seem like a very smart and courageous girl. It's amazing that even though you were out for so long, you are still keeping up in school. Keep up the good work Lucy!
Sincerely,
Bridget T.