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S.E.A.T; Who Am I?

 

Thank you so much, Capt P.K.Amoabeng(Rtd)

Today has been one of those days, but I want you to take a moment to consider an important question: "Who am I?" Many people answer with their professions: nurse, lawyer, banker. That’s what I thought, too, maybe not a banker, but I am a writer, a biotechnologist, or simply Beatrice. But let me get straight to the heart of the story and share my experience.
For the past few days, I have been preparing for a leadership interview. I was kind of anxious because that isn't my usual kind of interview. So, while I was preparing, I came across a YouTube interview with Richard McMunn that teaches simple techniques for answering certain questions. So I mastered his SEAT approach to answering the question "Tell us about yourself." In his explanation to the SEAT, anytime you are introducing yourself to interviewers, you've to talk about your skills (S), your education and experience (E), your achievements (A), and the type of person you are. You know, this was a simple game for Beatrice to play, so I wrote my story down for the question "Tell me about yourself" using the SEAT approach; everything on point. I couldn't wait to tell my interviewers who I am.
I arrived in Accra with time to spare, 28 minutes early at our meeting place.
Inside the reception, I was the smallest person in the room. I felt a surge of nerves because the program involved two weeks of military training; I joked to myself that you wouldn’t send a toddler to battle. Before the interview, I felt intimidated by the other applicants’ stature. Still, I kept up my usual attitude: "I got this," even if fear almost took my breath away. I sat among the giants, smiling, and awkwardly put on my shoes.
After waiting, we were called to the 9th floor for the interview. The elevator ride was quite an experience.
After submitting our credentials, another lady asked how the interview would go. "Oh, it’s just a normal conversational format," the staff replied. My stomach dropped at the word "conversational." Spontaneous conversation isn’t my strength. I tend to overtalk or go off-topic, so I often avoid it or stay quiet to hide my nerves.
When it was my turn, I entered the room and saw the smiling panelists. Suddenly, my mind blanked. Everything I prepared, my story, skills, experiences, and education, achievements, disappeared. I focused only on the conversation unfolding.
The first question was: Can you tell us who you are and what you want to achieve from this program? Honestly, I can’t remember if that’s exactly what was asked; I was too overwhelmed to process it clearly.
I’m not sure if I answered their question or just had a conversation. I forgot to mention my roles: president of a renowned international youth club, founder of a youth movement for clean water, top student, resuscitator, Ghana tertiary best blogger nominee, and more. I forgot everything I had written about who I am or what my qualifications say.
I won’t go into the full interview, but I want to share a word I often use: "serendipity." Today, I truly experienced it. The first day I saw "The UT Story," I wanted to read it. My desire grew after the author, Cap P.K. Amoabeng, asked us in a meeting, “How much do you need to be happy?” That simple question stays with me whenever I feel unhappy due to unachieved goals. I couldn’t afford the book then, so I planned to buy it later. Guess what serendipity brought me today?
I received the book for free, with his autograph.
As I waited for the elevator to leave, a question echoed in my mind: "Who are you, Beatrice?" It felt impossible to answer beyond listing my name, qualifications, or experiences. This moment forced me to reflect deeply, making me realize how difficult it can be to define oneself beyond these external markers.
Maybe I am still discovering who I am beyond education and work. It seems society and culture often shape our identity so much that we struggle to introduce ourselves beyond our credentials.
I believe who we are should be easy to define, as naturally as saying our own name. Yet that simple truth often feels like the hardest question to answer honestly.


Thanks for reading. I just wanted to share my experience. If you can, help me thank Captain P.K. Amoabeng and the Scholars Program for the amazing gift of "The UT Story." The first line I saw in the book was, “In life, I have learnt that it is important to step forward.” I don’t want to spoil the book for myself; if I start, I might miss my stop or burn a food. Grab yours if you’re curious about building something valuable.
Stay tuned for entrepreneurship tips to help graduates and students grow their businesses. By the way, we have a webinar today at 5:00PM GMT on Student Business-Revolution. Join us to learn something new. I’ll leave the flyer and link below.

Register At: https://forms.gle/AsWHMg836tT1Jzt4A
Friday, October 24 · 5:00 – 6:00pm
Time zone: GMT
Google Meet joining info

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