“Africa? Really? You couldn’t have picked Europe or something?”

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this, I would probably be able to afford this trip without the help of my parents (Thanks, Mom and Dad.)

To those of you who have asked me this question, don’t feel bad. Whenever I hear it, I am once again reminded of why this trip is so important to me. Yes, I want to expose myself to a new culture. Yes, I want to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Yes, I want to learn more about the media. But, most importantly, I want to help break down the negative stereotypes associated with Africa.

Unfortunately, western media often provides an incomplete image of Africa, giving Americans an inaccurate representation of what life is truly like there. Contrary to popular belief, I will not be gathering my water down by the river, I will not become a sex slave the moment I arrive, I will not be living in a hut, I will not be riding an elephant to work, and yes, there are actually places to work in Ghana. Unbelievable, right?

Yes, the negative things we hear about Africa in the news are part of the story, but they are not the entire story. I am embarking on this journey to expose myself to the untold parts of the African narrative. By the end of the experience, I hope to break down the single story of Africa that many of us have come to know.