Rosianna Alexander is a senior studying Human Development and Family studies with the goal of becoming a marriage and family therapist. During the summer between her sophomore and junior years, she went on a faculty-led study tour of Ghana through the College of ACES.
On this program, students were exposed to a variety of cultural sites while on a tour that traversed the whole country of Ghana following the trajectory of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Rosianna learned about Ghanian history from the locals and valued the authenticity of their perspectives.
“One integral part of the program was identity reflection. Although I don’t personally have Ghanian roots, I feel as though I had impactful experiences that translated into reflecting on my own identity, particularly my race. Our professor and TA incorporated group discussions after every cultural activity. It was powerful and educational to hear what my peers took from our experiences and how they related it to their life and identity. Being on a program like this was very special to me.”