This week, I’m preparing for my dissertation defense, a milestone I’ve dreamed of for years. As I sit with my notes and my research, I’m reflecting deeply on what higher education means to me as a Black immigrant woman in America. I’m thinking of the women who came before me, whose courage and sacrifices laid the foundation for this moment. I’m thinking of young Ruby Bridges, walking into a classroom that wanted to keep her out, and the weight that such bravery carries, even decades later. Growing up in Ghana, the “Send Your Girl Child to School” campaign was strong. To this day, I can still hear the jingle in my head. It amazes me to think there was a time, not long ago, when a girl child’s education was not guaranteed. Yes, there’s still so much work to be done for women, for Black women, for African women. But today, I’m pausing to honor how far we’ve come. Because every page I write, every slide I prepare, is part of a much bigger story, one of progress, resilience, and possibility. If you’ve walked this journey of being the “first” or the “only,” know this: You belong here. We belong here. . #PhDjourney #blackwomeninacademia #ResilienceInRealTime #firstgenscholars #highereducation #blackexcellence #immigrantVoices #africanwomen #immigrantwomen #ghanawomen - @alicetraumatherapist