Meet Justine Amendson! President of the African Student Association and a very hard worker for Loyola University Maryland. You can see her around the campus and honestly one of the nicest people in the world. Through a smiling face is a dedicated, hard working person. Balancing hectic schedules, planning and setting up meetings, adjusting to life in America after moving from the country of Ghana, please enjoy listening and reading this interview!
Aniaya Jones (00:02): So, what's your name?
Justine Amendson (00:04): My name is Justine Amendson.
Aniaya Jones (00:06): So how old are you?
Justine Amendson (00:08): I am 21 years old.
Aniaya Jones (00:09): Where are you from?
Justine Amendson (00:11): Originally from Ghana, but I am from Maryland.
Aniaya Jones (00:17): Can you talk about your experience in Ghana?
Justine Amendson (00:23): Sure. I was in Ghana until I was born there and I lived there until I was 14 and then I came here in 2016. Honestly my experience in Ghana wasn't like that, it was fun. Definitely, you know, kids running around, just having fun, playing outside. It was more so like, I was very protected, just like, because like, 'cause of my sickness, not my sickness. <Laugh>, oh my God, not my sickness. <Laugh> asthma is not a sickness, it's just lung incapacitation. So yes, I have asthma. And the conditions in Ghana were great for like, everything was a trigger of dust perfume, like smoke from cooking, just anything was like a trigger. So like, I was very protected. I wasn't allowed to go just anywhere 'cause I was young, I couldn't really handle or like, I couldn't really use my inhaler as I was supposed to, so I wasn't entrusted with it. So if I needed to use my inhaler, I had to be home where my mom was <laugh> to use it, so I couldn't go too far and everything. But, you know, I still had my fun played with my friends, you know, school, staying over, being late, you get home, you get whipped a little bit for, you know, not coming home early, but, you know, I was all part of the fun, you know it built character. So yeah.
Aniaya Jones (02:08): So having asthma here versus asthma in Ghana, what would you <laugh>, which one would you say is better?
Justine Amendson (02:18): Oh my God. Here, here in America, here, the asthma is way better. Like, I literally don't, I've, I have, I've had one inhaler for like almost a year and a half now and it hasn't run out. If I was in Ghana, I would've gone through one in like two weeks. So every two, two weeks I was going through like a single inhaler. It might be from misuse, I don't know. But it was definitely like so many triggers where like every single second, like multiple times a day, I was like needing the inhaler. And it's not since I was younger, like obviously when they, when the asthma attacks came, it was more severe than like in my adult stage now where I can better handle myself, I can better control it and stuff. So yes, definitely better here, 100% better. You rarely see dust here. The only thing that's an inconvenience here is that when we, when I came here, apparently for the, you had to get prescriptions for the inhalers. Ghana, you don't, you literally just go to the pharmacy, go buy it, you're using it here, you need a prescription and then the pharmacy has to fill it out. Then you have to go pick it up and it's like this whole process, yada yada y so that was the only thing. But aside from that, Gucci is perfect here. Mm-Hmm <affirmative>.
Aniaya Jones (03:46): So you are a college student, right?
Justine Amendson (03:49): Yes. <Laugh>, yes. For the past four years, the level of stress I've been through, yes, definitely. So what major are you again? I am a bios psych major. Originally bio, but now bios, psych. Huh?
Aniaya Jones (04:03): Did you always wanted to be a bios psych?
Justine Amendson (04:04): Major? No, I actually always wanted to be a bio major. Actually. I wanted to be biochem. 'cause In high school I was really good in chemistry, not so great in bio, but usually balanced out. So I figured biochem might not merge the two. And then I got here and biochem isn't what you think it is and it's much more hectic. It is just more painful. So we said bye back to that. And then we stuck with bio. And the bio was great and everything. It's just like, I'm the type of person who gets super bored easily. And I've been doing bio literally since like ninth grade. Maybe before that it was just a whole lot of repetition. So I got bored with just bio. So then I was like, oh, psych could be interesting. I took an intro to psych class and it was very interesting.
Justine Amendson (05:05): They had, we, they, the professor had signed up for therapy sessions with the grad students. So we just talked like whatever, whatever. They weren't allowed to give us any advice or anything. They were just supposed to push the conversation, let us discover what we need to discover, whatever. And I really liked it. It was very enlightening. 'cause Like I, I was opening up and talking about things I generally wouldn't open up about. 'cause I don't tell you my business. 'cause If you can't fix it, then what am I telling you? You know? But yeah, I really liked it. So then I took that fall of junior year. So spring of junior year before we, I think, what was this? After we came back on campus, I went to SAS, went to change my major, went to see a whole bunch of people, got the approvals and then I had to like, get over it and into a whole bunch of psych classes. Which is why my senior year is also so hectic. 'cause Like I have, I have so many bio classes, but I have, most of them don't really count towards psych. So now I'm taking a whole bunch of psych classes to balance that out. So yeah. I'm supposed to be living a soft life this senior year, but apparently I cannot because <laugh> because my nature as a human being put me in this position. So, yeah. Fun.
Aniaya Jones (06:33): So were you always into like, bio and like bios, psych? Like did you want to be anything else outside of science?
Justine Amendson (06:44): It's more so, well first of all, let me give a little context. With Africa, African standards and like African parents, you are four things or you're a failure, you're <laugh>, you're, you're either a doctor or something. Someone in a, in the health field, someone prominent in the health field or you're a lawyer, banker or engineer for those, or like an accountant whatever business for those, anything outside those lines, you are a bum. No one likes you, you're a failure. <Laugh> your life is literally not going to amount to anything. Literally according to African standards. Now, when I was a kid you know, when you're a kid they'll ask you, oh, what do you wanna be in future? And you know, those people, I wanna sell ice cream, I wanna do this, do that. I originally wanted to be a banker because I like money.
Justine Amendson (07:44):
So I figured why not work in a setting where money is literally like right next door, you know? I mean, not that I'm going to steal or anything it's just, it's, it's right there <laugh>. So I just felt being a banker would be nice. But then, you know, professions in Ghana are very, very different from here, like in Ghana you could be in a really good profession, but you're not making a lot of money just because of how the economy is. So I got exposed to how like bankers, like they really don't make a lot, they're struggling, whatever. I was like, okay, so maybe not that. And then I wanted to be a liar 'cause I used to be in these debate teams and I was good. I thought I was good. I thought I was good, I was good with arguments and stuff.
Justine Amendson (08:36): So I figured, you know, why not be a liar? But then I started watching a whole bunch of movies, especially on weekends. I literally remember the, the, the channel. It was a ViaSat one blockbuster movie. I swear to you that is literally the channel. And it was, it was just like hours of back-to-back movies. But anyways, I got exposed to at least the movie portrayal of how lawyers are where you have to compromise your values to either defend a criminal or you defend someone and the other person doesn't like the outcome. So then they like to find your house, find your family, kidnap them, like send you their mail, you their ears or like their finger or something to threaten you. You're asleep in your bed, you wake up, there's a tall figure over you holding a knife about to kill you. You know, it's a whole lot of things, a whole lot of factors, <laugh>.
Justine Amendson (09:40): And I was like, I don't want to die before I can enjoy my career and the money I'll be earning, so maybe not become a lawyer. You know, I felt just futuristically. It didn't, it didn't look feasible, you know? So the lawyer was out of the book. So now I was down to a doctor or well journalism isn't really included in the list of like good jobs by African standards. So journalism was also one of the runner ups just because there were these nights where my friends and I would gather, would write a script and then we'd each take turns reading the, like giving the evening news, you know, <laugh> giving the updates, whatever, whatever. So then everyone goes up to read and then we all vote on who sounded best , like a newscaster or like a journalist or whatever.
Justine Amendson (10:46): And I used to be good, you know, I was all like fun and games and stuff. So yeah, but then again, journalists, if you're not really developed or like more, if you're not really known that you're not getting jobs, especially in Ghana, it's about who you know. It's not really about how you get the job. You need to know people to be able to get the jobs and yeah, that the like, seem feasible either. So then the only option was doctor or science or healthcare. And I didn't mind that because like, I was in the hospital a lot as a kid, so I liked seeing how the hospital worked. Oh my god, literally one time Uh Huh <affirmative>, I <laugh> my, my, my mom sent my sister and I, my older sister and I to go get something from the store. We were coming back, she had me hold it.
Justine Amendson (11:44): 'Cause I'm the youngest, typically the oldest is always like, you know, the youngest does everything outta respect for the oldest African students, whatever. So we're coming. I'm like, this thing is pretty heavy, can you help me carry it? She was like, no, we're going back and forth. I was like, then I'm just going to leave the items by the side of the road and just walk home. She was like, I dare you, I dare you. And you know, when you're a kid, you like to test the waters, you like to, you know, challenge the norms and stuff. So then I proceeded to leave the things by the roadside. And when I say the roadside Ghana, the, the roads are, well when I was there, the roads are like fully made. It's all dusty and whatever, whatever trash laying around or something, you know.
Justine Amendson (12:36): So I just left it there. I was walking and felt a sharp pain across my cheek. And I woke up in the hospital, my older sister slapped me and I got an asthma attack. <Laugh>, I was smacked so hard. I got an asthma attack literally in the hospital for like two, three days. It was crazy. My mom was so mad. It was just, but yeah, since then, no one ever hit me or anything. So I never got, I mean I got in trouble, but it was just like verbal stuff, scooting. I was never whipped or anything. But yeah, that was one of the instances where I was in the hospital and I got to see how the hospital was working <laugh> and I was like, oh, okay, this could be fun. You know, the doctor comes in, in the white coats looking gorgeous and whatever, saying all the big fancy words marking off stuff.
Justine Amendson (13:35):
It's like, okay, that could be me. You know? So yeah, then I got into wanting to become a doctor. And then it wasn't really, with being a doctor, you can't really, Ghana is not the best place to be. A doctor is a lacy. So Africa in general is not the best place to be a doctor is just my opinion. It's not just the best. So I'm definitely lucky that I came to, I came here, got the experiences, got the exposure. Like here there are internships and stuff where you can go like shadow people in the hospital, Ghana, you can't do that. Literally you go to the hospital, you're shadowing this doctor, whatever, there's a power outage and that's very common. It's just like a whole lot and it's always about, oh, who can you pay? Who do you know? Everyone is always trying to get a little something. So yeah, it's definitely better. And I think that also helped improve my passion and like wanting to do something in the healthcare field. Not, definitely not like a doctor decisively, just something in the healthcare field. Yeah.
Aniaya Jones (14:46): So you said that you had a hectic schedule,
Justine Amendson (14:50): <Laugh>. Yeah. So
Aniaya Jones (14:52): Can you lightly describe your schedule?
Justine Amendson (14:57): Okay, so I work on campus and the LLC comes to visit us. You know, we have snacks and study supplies. It's a very fun study space. So come visit us and come study. But anyways, oh, you can watch movies too. But yeah, I work at the LLC language and learning center on campus in Maryland Hall. And I'm taking six classes this semester, 20 credits. Tuesdays and Thursdays are like my most favorite, heavy busiest days. I have four classes on those days with work included, work not included. So in between classes, whenever I have free time, I'm either working. And I am also the president of the African Students Association on campus. Shout out to us, come check us out. We have fun events coming, food, drinks, good vibes. But yeah, so when I'm not in class, I'm working.
Justine Amendson (15:58): If I'm not working, I'm doing something ASA related. I am also a peer mentor coordinator for AMP and also an AMP mentor. So yeah, all of that fun stuff. But on a typical day, like Monday, today I have three classes. I have an 8:00 AM lab <laugh>. I have an 8:00 AM lab, and then I have my first class at 11. And then I have, I have work, not work. I have my lab from 3:00 PM until five. Then I'm working from five to eight. And then in between I usually use my in-between time to either get work done or go shopping for ASA events coming up or going to meetings with the Atlanta director. So we can go over logistics for events coming up. A typical Tuesday is first class at 9 25 to 10 40, then work from 11 to one. Then my class went from 1 to 1:40, then another class from 2:55 and then from 3:05 to 4:20.
Justine Amendson (17:12):
And then I have like a little like hour, hour and a half in between where I usually probably will be doing ASA stuff. And then I have my 6:00 PM class until seven 15. Yeah, Wednesdays I usually have only two classes, one at 11 and then another at four 30 until seven <laugh>. But Wednesdays I work the early morning shift. So I'm here from, I'm on campus at nine out in the LLC 9:00 AM to 11, then class 11 to 1150. I get a four hour period where I'm like not doing anything. But usually during that period I also like running around doing stuff. Then I have class four 30 to seven.
So my quietest days are usually Fridays. 'cause I only have one class at 11:00 AM and I don't work on Fridays. So that's fun. And Thursdays, some Thursdays I stay past seven 15 after my last class. 'cause ASA usually holds GBMs after class from 7:15 to 8. And it gets really out of hand where like no one wants to go home. So half the time, some Thursdays I will go home at maybe 10 or 11:00 PM just because they don't want to go home. And as the president, I can't leave my members there. So then I am forced to stay, which is fun, you know, it's all good vibes and yeah. But yeah, that is the typical just schedule. Wow. This semester.
Aniaya Jones (18:56):
2023 Barbie?
Justine Amendson (18:58):
Yeah, <laugh>. Oh, and on weekends sometimes I work as a certified nursing assistant. <Laugh> <laugh>, huh? Either that or I might like to pick up a shift to go babysit, but I don't really do too much babysitting 'cause it's a kid, kids have too much energy and I'm usually drained from the week. I can't pretend to be happy and have fun. So most of the time, in order not to traumatize the kids, I just don't babysit. Instead I'll go work like an elderly person. 'cause They're just like, just chilling. They're just sleeping and chatting a lot. But yeah.
Aniaya Jones (19:45):
So do you feel like your hectic schedule is preparing you for your future?
Justine Amendson (19:49):
No, it's not. It's really not. It's really not in, not in any capacity. If anything it is just showing me that I can push myself even when I'm super stressed and that like, I can still get stuff done even when I have a lot going on. But that there's, there's, there's no benefit. No benefit whatsoever. You know? I mean I guess it's helping me get my degree for work later, but <laugh> yeah, that's it. There's really no benefits. <Laugh>, <laugh>, I mean if I was getting paid then that would be a different situation. But yeah, <laugh>, no great incentive. Just stress and yay <laugh>. Yeah.
Aniaya Jones (19:50)Thank you!
Comments