WHY I CHOSE UTSC: Nana Efia Acquah — from Ghana to Scarborough

Nana Efia Acquah
Second-year student Nana Efia Acquah came to Scarborough from Accra, the capital city of Ghana. (Photo by Tina Adamopoulos)

Alexa Battler

Nana Efia Acquah says she doesn’t think twice about tapping a classmate on the shoulder and asking for help, even if she has never met them. 

“People here are nice, I don’t feel shy to talk to somebody if I need help,” she says. “The fact that I’m not restricted to approach someone is what I like about U of T Scarborough.”

Smaller class sizes nurture that feeling, says Acquah, a second-year student double majoring in human biology and psychology at U of T Scarborough. 

“I like the fact that it is much easier to make new friends here at U of T Scarborough,” she says. “And that I can always go to my professors whenever I need further explanation as well as, have a conversation with them, which could help with references later.”

Acquah aims to go to medical school after finishing her degree. She says she chose U of T because it is one of few Canadian universities that accepts international students into its medical doctorate program. 

She’s particularly interested in working with the kidney, because a member of her family is waiting for a transplant. 

“I want to know more about how the entire human body functions,” she says. “That’s why I’m doing human biology.”

Acquah came to Scarborough from Accra, the capital city of Ghana. She says one of the biggest cultural differences is in transit. In Ghana, passengers say where they are going, then bus drivers tailor their route accordingly. The bus system here, with firm, designated stops, is slower, but more convenient, she adds.

Acquah lived in residence during her first year. Though she now lives off-campus with friends she met in first year, she is only a 15-minute walk away. 

“What stands out most to me about Scarborough is the fact that you can meet new people easily, I’m not scared to go and meet friends and explore my surroundings,” she says.