A Bear on Beacon Hill
If you’ve lived in a residence hall on campus over the last few years, you may know her as a Resident Assistant; if you’re involved in Greek Life, you may know her as the President of the sorority Gamma Phi Beta; on the off chance you’re a state senator, you’ve probably seen her at work in the State House as a legislative intern. Keyana Adarkwah, a senior majoring in Psychology with minors in Political Science and Civic Education and Community Leadership, has become a familiar and welcoming face for many people around campus.
On top of her many responsibilities on campus, Keyana began an internship at the State House, which she hopes will give her perspective on how the laws around her desired career of child advocacy care work. “Although I want to work for child advocacy on an international scale, the internship at the State House gives me the chance to see how those types of policies get made on a local level.” Keyana went on to explain that working in the State House gives her the chance to “learn what I am watching.” On what inspired her to work towards child advocacy rights, Keyana credits a trip she took Sophomore year to Cambodia, a country in south-east Asia with little to no laws regarding child labor. “You’d see older siblings who had dropped out of school and worked 40 hours a week in fields so their younger siblings could go to school,” Keyana explained. It was her experience in Cambodia that has Keyana striving to work on the international circuit for children’s rights and help children around the globe.
Keyana credits a lot of her ability to lead and be heard in her position at the State House to skills she has learned here at BSU. “BSU has really helped me with leadership skills. A lot of senators I work with are impressed on how willing I am to speak up, and I feel I learned that at BSU.” Keyana was not always so involved on campus, however, “I was not involved at all my first semester. Then I went out for Greek Life and it really changed me; sometimes all it takes is one person pushing for you to get involved.” Keyana, who has become a model of involvement on campus, gives this advice to students who are hesitant or afraid to get involved, “Once you start being involved it’s hard to stop. Just because you try something and put yourself out there and don’t like something doesn’t mean you should stop trying to find an activity you like.”
