Interview with Esi Donrinda - UCC SRC Secretary [Part 2] ~ UCCTALKS | The Official Info and Social Interaction Site For UCC Students

UCCTalks.com's Shepherd Morttey Yaw [Efo Shepherd Pidho], caught up with Esi Donrinda before she was sworn into office as SRC Secretary. The part two of the interview looks at the SRC Executive Council, Women Empowerment in Politics and Education and Esi's Favourite Lecturers as well as some fun she had in Level 100.
You can find the first part of the interview here: Interview with Esi Donrinda - UCC SRC Secretary [Part 1]

UT: Now moving to policies, you made it clear to us that you were going to work towards acquiring brailles for the blind even if it requires partnering with NGOs. Apart from this which other policies are very dear to you?

ESI: Apart from the braille one other thing that is very dear to me is students having our course timetables in our portals. I believe we have gotten to an era where we should move a step forward. Kudos to those who have worked on getting our examination timetables in our portals. But I would love that we also have our course timetables in our portals to save us the burden of moving from one department to another to get our timetables.

UT: Aside the policies that you outlined to students, is there any other policies that we should look out for from Esi Dorinda?

ESI: Well now that elections are over, we have a team to work with, and as such every individual manifesto is going to be fused together with that of the president to have all our work in one positive direction. So at this point I cannot say that Esi alone is going to bring out something; I would urge students to look out for the SRC as a whole, because I believe in team work.

UT: What is your view on the newly elected Executive Council of the SRC?

ESI: Well, I have a mindset of the willingness to work with everyone and especially with this current council. But I believe I know most of them and I am looking forward to a power-driven council with passionate students who will stand for the interest of all students.

UT: Which lecturers would you say are your favorites, and do you know any of them personally?

ESI: I think my favorite lecturer is Dr. Bentum, who taught me Eco-math. He is very funny and friendly. And the most controversial, very funny and strict lecturer to me is Mr. Henry Amankwah who is popularly known as ‘Killer’ from the Mathematics Department.

UT: Wow! What do you make of the name, ‘Killer’? [with laugher]

ESI: He just loves the name and I don’t know why, but ‘Killer’ is just ‘Killer’ [with smiles]

UT: What would you say you like or dislike about lectures?

ESI: Well, one thing I don’t like is early lectures. The feeling is like being asked to learn when you wake up. On the other hand what I like about lectures is the interaction we have – when I am in a mathematics class and we are given a question to try and people interact with each other in the quest to find a solution to the question.

UT: Since you happen to be reading mathematics, is there any particular formula you love?

ESI: I think my favorite is an identity which is

= 1. I like it because it’s very simple and cool. Just a matter of changing the subject to get the other value.

UT: Reading Economics and Mathematics will be more of an adventure, but your favorite mathematics formula is a rather simple identity; can someone say that you are a dynamic individual?

ESI: When it comes to academics I don’t think it’s a matter of an adventure. I wouldn’t go for a difficult question in an examination when there is an easy one; come on. Though I would have done it in other circumstances, but for academic purposes I will surely go the easy way. I would go for the traditional method where we use ‘pasco’ and it ‘drops’ and you have it easy.

UT: Are you an easy going person or the kind of person that people will have to get closer to before than can relate with you?

ESI: Well, what I can say is that trying to be someone else is a very tedious work and you would sometimes need to take a break; meaning that no matter how much you try to be like someone your real image will eventually come out. I am actually a very easy-going person I am very quiet sometimes, but it’s quite interesting interacting with people and I like to get to know everybody.

UT: You know a lot of people in Ghana have some kind of phobia for mathematics, especially among ladies. As a lady reading mathematics, what keeps you going?

ESI: I must admit that there have been times that I have seen some horrible grades that could make me collapse and I have not been proud of and times that I have had very amazing grades. But it’s all about discipline, constant practice and persistence. Mathematics helps you to be a person who will pay attention to details and disciplined since you have specific rules or identities to go by to get the results. The different approaches that are used to solve questions enable you to be open-minded; that makes me love mathematics and keeps me going.

UT: Talking about gender equality; we observed that a lady contested for Local Nugs President and TEIN President as well. Ladies contesting for the top-most position is not something that really happens here on Campus. Do you think women empowerment is gaining grounds as far as elections on campus is concerned?

ESI: I think a wind of change is blowing gradually and we would have to work on it. Inasmuch as women would like to create this whole change, it cannot be done with our men. I remember when I intended to contest this position; I spoke to some lecturers of my intention. In my conversation with one lecturer she questioned me on why I did not vie for the office of the presidency. And when I told her I preferred the Secretary position, she asked “Why do women always want to occupy those portfolios – the ones behind the biggest positions?” What I can deduce from what she said is that we are getting to an era where people would like to see the change. However I would want ladies to understand that women empowerment is not about riding over men or being disrespectful to them; but having the consciousness that you can achieve anything without any barriers. As much we can be empowered, tradition requires that some respect and submission be shown to men. However the submission does not limit us to do things or be below men.

UT: What was your funniest moment in the hall while you were in level hundred?

ESI: Okay, I remember there was one time we had a clean-up exercise where I took videos of people while they were looking messy; I still have the video though. It was something I did which is still on my mind and it is a great memory to me. I was a little bit quiet in level 100 due to the program I was reading, but very friendly as well. However the more I put myself into the environment, the more I got capable of combining academics with social life and that has contributed to who I am now. I think that was my funniest moment though it doesn’t sound really funny; I enjoyed together with the Kenkey that we had that day.

UT: Maybe we would have a look at the video someday.

ESI: No! No!! No!!! People are going to kill me if that video goes out. (With laughter)

UT: Hahaha! Well, any advice for someone who would want to be like you, since you would be perceived to be a role model among most ladies on campus, having won this very competitive election.

ESI: Before I respond to that, let me say that no one should think what I am about to say is a cliché. I think the first thing in life is to have strong faith in God and I believe there is a “God factor” in politics, though some people do not believe in that. You would also have to be yourself; that is stick to your values, stick to who you are and don’t try to be what you are not; because after elections you can’t just transform into someone else. Trust me, there will be a lot of responsibilities and you might find yourself sinking down if you have been yourself. You must also try to convince yourself and have a genuine reason why you would want to contest for a position because you can lose if don’t have a genuine reason and a true passion. Also, feel free, laugh with anyone because there are people you meet on campus who may not have any portfolio but they will have other things they do outside campus which might be of help to you. The last thing is that you shouldn’t forget your studies as a politician and keep improving upon it. Lastly, I would end with a quote: “In life when your passion meets your experience, the results are astronomical” and that “leadership is not about experience, but the ability to communicate and negotiate for the interest of the people.”

UT: Very well said, I think I have a couple of points to pick from that. Can you tell us a little about your relationship with Nana Yaa and do you look forward to work with her.

ESI: Well, the funny thing was that I never knew her before the elections unlike other competitors who were friends even before the elections. But then she called to congratulate me after the elections and I give her a big kudos for that. I look forward to making sure that we trash out any issue that came up in the course of the elections. You would bear with me that our election was a keenly contested one and I am glad to have come out victorious. It’s a story I would love to share everywhere. There were times people would call and others we met in the course of campaigning spoke about how confused they were as far our portfolio was concerned. But I look forward to having the opportunity for her to bring some of her policies on board to help move the SRC forward.

UT: We also look forward to seeing both of you work together. Anyone you would want to express appreciation to?

ESI: Well, I want to say a very big thank you to God for this victory and also to my family, friends and my campaign team with the likes of Bawumia, Let’s Go, Mantse, Seeker, Sadiq, Sentence, Obed, Merphy; in fact the names are too many. We had Alonso, Shegar, Gasty, and everyone else I might have forgotten. Not forgetting the manager of Connet and to my twitter followers, I love you all! You kept me trending and you made @EDonrinda what @EDonrinda is. And Ucctalks, you made this year’s election trend so well. The feeling was like you read anything from Ucctalks and you are like “I am trending” “me na me nie”. [amidst laughter] Thank you so much Ucctalks and I pray people will still follow us even after the elections and know what is happening and perhaps till the end of the administration.

UT: Closing remarks?

ESI: I love you all, I love UCC and I am not perfect though, but I believe that I am going to get you involved in the administration so that we can learn from each other and let’s not forget that as at now I am not just an individual, but under an administration so whatever I do is not of my own but is done as a team. I am ready to listen to your criticisms and suggestions. The Esi before the elections is the same after the elections.

UT: Thank you so much, Esi.

ESI: You are welcome.

[End of Interview]

Interview was transcribed by Albert Dodoo.