Hailing from Toronto, Ont., Sesley Aidoo is a second-year social work and business student at Carleton University. She also currently serves as the vice-president of the Carleton University Ghanaian Student Association.
When asked what drove Sesley Aidoo to choose Carleton for her post-secondary studies, Aidoo said that the honest answer was, “I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I grew up as the youngest child so I’ve always strived for independence.” Aidoo yearned to experience a new city filled with new people and places to explore.
Delving deeper into her experience at Carleton, Aidoo explained that her favorite things about her program so far are the interpersonal and listening skills it has given her. Being an African-American woman growing up in Canada, learning about the different structures that oppress minority groups was also a highlight. However, Aidoo is planning on switching majors in the fall to pursue a degree in business. The change is fueled by Aidoo’s ambition to work with various entrepreneurs and artists and travel to different cities while building something she can call her own.
Aidoo began her involvement with CUGHSA in 2012 as a volunteer before running for election, becoming vice-president in 2013. “Even though I was away from home and I had already made friends at school, I wanted to be a part of something.” Aidoo credits her friends with the energy that drove her to run for election.
“We just had so many great ideas … shout out to my team, they’re all amazing, creative minds. We just knew that we would kill it this year,” she said.
When it comes to her role with CUGHSA, Aidoo told me that as vice-president, she is the stand-in whenever president Kofi Dartey isn’t around.
“I help to delegate tasks and make sure that we’re moving in the right direction. I also help translate different concepts into feasible plans… I’m basically there to support all of us,” Aidoo said.
She continued, “A personal interest of mine with the association is advertising through social media and developing creative concepts for things like our events and radio show, Afrocentrik Radio.”
Aidoo gets people involved with CUGHSA by talking to them and showing them what the environment is like. “CUGHSA is a really open and high energy environment where you can learn about our culture and meet new people in the process, Ghanaian or not. That’s one thing that I think makes a lot of people apprehensive of joining but it really makes my heart smile when I see people of different races coming out.”
Outside of her academic career and her work with the association Aidoo sees herself as a homebody. “I chill with my roommates and my friends; people usually come over, and every so often we go out on the weekends…get a little turnt.” But in her alone time she does enjoy listening to some of her favorite artists like Lianne La Havas, Frank Ocean and Drake.
Aidoo regards singer, songwriter, producer and fashion icon Pharrell as one of her inspirations.
“He’s just sick. He just put out a 24 hour music video called Happy with cameos of himself, celebrities and everyday people. Who can say they’ve done that? He excels in everything he pursues. I really admire that about him … he seems so down to earth, and he seems likes he’s weird like me so I like him,” she said.
Aidoo said that within the next 10 years she sees herself having a successful career and starting a family. She also sees herself doing many internships, possibly studying abroad and having enough financial freedom to travel as often as possible.
You can catch up with Aidoo and CUGHSA on Twitter and Instagram with their handles @CUGHSA and @atribecalledses. Also tune in to Afrocentrik Radio on 93.1 CKCU FM every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.