Maneuvering through the treacherous terrains of America’s Colleges/Schools of Education
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Sunday O. Obi
Abstract
Some aspiring African students prefer to travel “abroad” or overseas for example, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, and other developed countries to further their careers. This was a common practice for well-to-do families. To be more specific, some rich families in Nigeria tend to overlook higher institutions in their country. In my case, my dad inspired me, many decades ago, about travelling overseas to study. I was probably 12 years old when he hinted to me that his wish was for me to study overseas even though he did not mention any particular country. Ever since my dad indicated that desire, I accepted his wish until it came into fruition 20 years later. Specifically, in August 1979, I began my journey to the United States of America. However, while in the foreign land many African students confront multidimensional problems that range from prejudicial perceptions to illusory generalizations. For many Africans, problems include difficulty adjusting to a new cultural environment, xenophobia, misrepresentation, and miscategorization. Despite such problems, they are able to succeed and excel in their chosen professions. In this article, I discuss my experiences while maneuvering the treacherous terrain of America’s Colleges/School of Education.
References
Gwalla-Ogisi, N. (2003). Surviving the “killing zone” of higher education. In F. E. Obiakor & J. U. Gordon (Eds.), African perspectives in American higher education (pp. 23–34). New York: Nova Science Publishers.Search in Google Scholar
Jackson, R. (2019). Becoming the educator they need. Alexandria, VA: ASCD Publisher.Search in Google Scholar
© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial Comment
- Founding and executive editors’ comments: reducing racism and xenophobia in colleges/schools of education
- Research Articles
- Valuing African voices in Colleges/Schools of Education: introducing the Special Issue
- Education and employment in America: my quest for self-actualization as a person with hearing loss
- Maneuvering through the treacherous terrains of America’s Colleges/Schools of Education
- From graduate school to a successful employment in America: my story
- My lived reality and CSOE values of diversity, equity, and inclusion: interrogating the disconnect
- Educating and hiring an “African” in America’s Colleges/Schools of Education: my voice
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial Comment
- Founding and executive editors’ comments: reducing racism and xenophobia in colleges/schools of education
- Research Articles
- Valuing African voices in Colleges/Schools of Education: introducing the Special Issue
- Education and employment in America: my quest for self-actualization as a person with hearing loss
- Maneuvering through the treacherous terrains of America’s Colleges/Schools of Education
- From graduate school to a successful employment in America: my story
- My lived reality and CSOE values of diversity, equity, and inclusion: interrogating the disconnect
- Educating and hiring an “African” in America’s Colleges/Schools of Education: my voice
