Graduate profile: Shainah Andrews

Andrews graduates May 3 with a bachelor’s in English and a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate.

As a first-generation college student who hadn’t traveled outside the U.S. before, Shainah Andrews never thought she’d have the opportunity to study abroad – twice.

But during her time at ECU, she was able to study in London in summer 2017 and at the University of Ghana in West Africa this past fall.

“I’ve really enjoyed how I’ve had the opportunity to take a wide array of classes (at ECU). Taking African American literature was a class that gave me the extra push to study abroad in Ghana,” Andrews said.

Her diverse studies continued in Africa, where Andrews took classes in traditional dance, short story literature, the history of colonization, and a native language called Twi.

In May, Andrews will graduate with a bachelor’s in English and a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate. After graduation, she plans to put her TESOL skills to good use and teach English in South America for a year or two. Then she’d like to go to graduate school, she said.

“I’m grateful for the faculty and staff at ECU for giving me an education and experiences and wisdom that I wouldn’t be able to obtain anywhere else,” Andrews added. “Over the four years I’ve really made great, strong connections and met so many amazing people.”

In Africa, Andrews took classes in traditional dance, short story literature, the history of colonization, and a native language called Twi.