Post by Francisca Arhinful

I'm not going to sugar coat this, If you are currently in the university, graduating with #FirstClassHonours is yours ... take it. Let me be very honest with you, Your degree matters. For me, getting a first class was not optional, it was strategic. But it didn’t start that way. My very first semester in the University of Ghana, I got an F. And I genuinely believed a first class was out of reach. Then one day, my mum said something simple: “If you get a first class, I’ll be so happy.” I was already in Level 300. Almost done. And suddenly, I had to confront a question I had been avoiding: Is this still possible for me? So I did something practical. I sat down, calculated my GPA, and mapped out exactly what I needed to do to reach a first class. From that day, I became intentional. Everyone close to me heard me say it over and over again: “I’m going to graduate with a first class, and I’m going to do my Master’s abroad.” And eventually, that’s exactly what happened. I got selected to receive the prestigious Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge to study for an MPhil in Education (Education Policy, Leadership and Improvement) full-time starting in the academic year 2025/26… Here’s my reflection now: When I was applying for my Master’s, I never once doubted if I was academically qualified. My grades had already secured my seat at the table. All I needed to do was strengthen my application. That confidence matters. Because graduate school applications are already difficult. Why make it harder by not giving yourself the strongest academic foundation possible? Let me be clear: If you didn’t get a first class, your life is NOT over. This is not for you. This is for those who are still in school. If you are still in school: You can do it. A first class is possible. But it won’t happen by accident. You have to: • Plan for it • Work for it • Be intentional about it Don’t downplay academic excellence. Yes, skills matter. Experience matters. But grades? Grades open doors. They give you access. They give you confidence. They position you differently. So if this is your season: Take it seriously. Not out of pressure. But out of purpose. Seeing my post for the first time? Let's connect. #GraduateSchool #AcademicExcellence #StudentLife #ScholarshipJourney #PurposeDrivenEducation