S8Ep12| GHANAIANS ABROAD - a conversation with architect Hansia Essuman in Georgia, USA

First year was challenging because I didn't come from like a typical visual arts background.

Everybody was trying to, you know, compete, show what they have, like, you know, sketching and all.

But I came from a strict, like, you know, elective background, like geography, French, economics.

So I'm like, OK, I think I would just have to use my brain and check where my strength would be.

And I would have to learn through the process if I want to do architecture.

Sketching is a huge part of it.

So I spoke with mentors.

I spoke with lecturers.

I spoke with some of my friends who were good in art.

And our first project they gave us was to sketch, I think, 60 abstract things.

and i'm like oh my goodness how do i even begin from when you talk of abstract like what are some of the things that they would require you to sketch i mean you do your little research and then follow other people's need consult your lecturer and then see what you're about When we submitted that project, I would say a lot of people left the class.

We were

about 90 something that had enrolled as first years.

And by the time we submitted the project, I think quite a number of people had just left.

I think they couldn't or maybe they got scared, I would say.

But I was very resilient because I knew that was something I wanted to do.

So I had to, you know, push through it.

And second year, I was still struggling a bit with a whole, you know, sketch and all.

And I cried so much.

Like my lecturers will literally notice that Hansa is not having it.

But I knew I was a good student.

I mean, there were other courses, there were other things that my interest were in.

So there was one time I went to my HOD and I told him that I think I don't want to do architecture again.

I want to leave.

Then he placed the call to my mom because I told you my parents are very involved in ASU.