How does a girl who did not attend a Russell Group university end up receiving an offer to study at an Ivy League university?

Determination, ambition, belief and choosing not to stop dreaming even when circumstances and challenges were supposed to shrink my dreams.

My name is Gabriella Oppong, and I am a Lancaster University Law graduate. I have now received an offer to study Education Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. I have thankfully also received some financial aid, but unfortunately, this is not enough to cover my expenses.

I was born in a small town in Italy to Ghanaian immigrants who have sacrificed everything to help me be where I am today. Growing up in an environment where not everyone looked like me, I had to face discrimination and injustices, and even though at the time there was not much chance that I could have made, I knew that education was the way to make that change. As the only Black student in my cohort at school, the narrative that I heard about my African roots was mostly related to poverty and slavery. The education system that was supposed to empower me, instead, undermined my identity.

These experiences have led me to become my university’s national Black Women’s Delegate, representing over 1,000 students. I collected data to understand innovative

ways to make the education system more inclusive, shedding light on issues affecting

Black women and students, including the lack of representation within the curriculum

and the absence of a lecture recording policy. I raised these with the university governing body. As a result, I advocated for a policy to make the education space supportive of different learning needs and increasingly accessible to enable all students to achieve their full potential. Moreover, I established the BAME Committee within the University to ensure that ethnic minorities have a representative body within the governmental institution.

In addition to my academic work, I have launched my international podcast, demonstrated my passion and gained an understanding of how to use digitalisation to

impact the youth globally, reaching every continent. This led me to be nominated as a

Future Leader in the Powerful Media Magazine and a guest on the University’s Education

Matters Podcast, where I explored why education needs to be empowering. Hence, I am

looking forward to refining and gaining more skills through discussions in spaces

Anything you could donate would be incredibly appreciated, and if you’re unable to donate, please share this with any friends, creators, or brands that may be able to help and who might be invested in my journey.

After completing masters I aim to hold workshops empowering others in educational spaces specifically in Ghana, my country of origin. Through mentorship and community-focused initiatives to create leaders within their community. I aim to reduce brain drain and help access to an education to supports students to achieve their full potential and become confident in their skills.

I am a passionate, innovative and impactful leader. I grew up in an environment where

few people looked like me, and where my aspirations were perceived as unrealistic, and I will not lie to you, this is what it feels like right now, but I believe that if we come together, we can make this dream a reality.

The challenge is to raise £40, 500 by 31 st of May to demonstrate proof of the necessary funds to cover all expenses and to ensure I can fill all the necessary documentation.

Anything you could donate would be incredibly appreciated, and if you’re unable to donate, please share this with any friends, creators, or brands that may be able to help and who might be invested in my journey.

Please share this far and wide. Help me make this dream a reality.

God bless you all.

Thank you!