I’m not sure what I expected from my Ashesi journey, but moving to Berekuso felt like being thrown into a fast-moving stream. Until I unpacked my bags in the dorm, Ashesi had been a goal I was chasing, a mix of interview preparation and waiting for decisions.

My first surprise was not how different the culture felt from what I was used to, but how differently learning happened. In high school, being smart often meant having the right answer first. Here, from my very first group discussion, lecturers and classmates cared about how we questioned an idea, pulled it apart, and built something useful from it. Seeing people from completely different backgrounds approach the same problem in different ways opened me up to perspectives I had not explored before.

Getting back into the rhythm of deadlines has been a hurdle, but my biggest challenge has been letting go of my instinct to do everything independently. Back home in Kenya, I was used to working through tasks on my own. At Ashesi, interactive assignments and collaborative projects have challenged that “do it myself” mindset. I’ve had to learn to share the workload, lean on study groups, and seek support from my peers. In the process, I’ve discovered that working with others can make learning more meaningful and effective.

Seeing Ashesi’s values displayed around campus has also helped me connect with the standards I had learned about before coming here. I quickly realized that these values were more than words on a wall; they were reflected in an everyday sense of trust. People leave their laptops on cafeteria tables without a second thought. Groups debate ideas without trying to talk over one another. These small moments made me think: this must be what the Honor Code looks like in practice.

In my first year, I want to push beyond my comfort zone, especially by becoming a more active voice in class and group discussions. More than anything, I’m looking forward to building lasting friendships, learning from the people around me, and becoming a meaningful part of the Ashesi community.