The image of three school-aged boys, arms around each others’ shoulders walking down the road with that impressionable smile, is imprinted in my mind as I reflect on what I have experienced in Ghana.
On Friday, I finished the last requirement of my entire nursing degree. I still have not processed what that means or which emotions are appropriate to express. There’s all manner of excitement, joy, relief, wistful memories, mingled with some trepidation of returning to Canada to start a new chapter in life.
But I’m not spending too much time deliberating over the future. I would rather deliberately choose to absorb every memory I’ve made and the ones I’ll make in this last week in Ghana.
Back to those boys in my introduction. To say my heart hasn’t been impacted by the people here in Ghana would be an absolute lie. Sure, I was fortunate to have finished my nursing degree here and in a place where I totally fell in love with pediatric nursing, but more that, I am privileged to have been in a place where people live life to the fullest.
Community is at the heart of every person. They enjoy each other’s company. They treat a stranger as a friend. They look out for each other. The people here work hard. They desire to build their own country stronger. They band together with their arms on each other’s shoulders.
I am completely thrilled that I am completely done nursing school forever. What?!?! But more than that, my life has been changed in ways I didn’t think possible. And it’s because of the beautiful people of Ghana. I cannot thank them enough for what they’ve done for me.
Lena's Footprints in Ghana 