Beatrice: Dear Ms. Attrams, could you please share some background information about yourself for our audience,?

Ms. Attrams:  My name is Sarah Attrams. I am 29 years old, and I currently live in Germany in a very small town called Homberg Efze. I am originally from Ghana and relocated to Germany in 2019 to pursue a master’s degree in environmental science at Trier University. I am currently working as a GIS Clerk in land management. I live alone and am single. That’s all about me.

Beatrice: Can you discuss a significant lesson you have learned from a mistake or a setback you encountered in your professional endeavors or your academic journey?

Ms Attrams: Looking back, if I had been more intentional and planned my professional or educational journey better, things might have turned out differently. I might have accomplished certain things more quickly and moved on. However, I believe it’s all part of the journey.

Beatrice: Could you kindly share a moment when you had to make a tough decision in your life?

Ms Attrams: A major tough decision was relocating from Ghana to Germany. It was challenging to leave my life and family behind to start over in a new country. Another tough decision was moving from Trier, where I attended university, to this small town. Trier felt like a second home because of the connections and friends I made there. Despite the challenges, I am happy with these decisions as they have helped me a lot in life.

Beatrice: Was the German language a barrier for you? And did you face any sort of racism throughout the process?

Ms. Attrams: The language was not a huge barrier, but if I spoke German better, more opportunities might have come my way, and I would have integrated better by now. Regarding racism, at my current job, fluency in German is required, and although my level is not professional, I was still given the job. So, in my case, I have been favored rather than faced racism.

Beatrice: Is there a piece of advice or insight from mentors that has greatly influenced your approach in this successful journey of yours?

Ms. Attrams: Yes, there have been several pieces of advice. One is not to be scared to start over in life if things don’t go as planned. Starting over and trying again has been crucial for me. Another is that everything eventually works out. Things may seem chaotic, but with time, taking a deep breath, and restrategizing, everything falls into place.

Beatrice: Could you describe a time when you had to step out of your comfort zone to address an urgent issue or initiative in your academic or professional journey? And what did you learn from that experience?

Ms. Attrams: A significant moment was applying for jobs and having interviews in German. I was always scared of this because convincing a recruiter in German was daunting. However, stepping out of that fear and going through the process helped me get to where I am today.

Beatrice: What holds your life together?

Ms. Attrams: First and foremost, God. I strongly believe that God takes good care of me.

Beatrice:  What are your strengths?

Ms. Attrams: One strength I have is my willingness to challenge myself. Nothing is too difficult for me once I decide to pursue it.

Beatrice: Looking at your various successes, can you say you are completely fulfilled?

Ms. Attrams: I am not completely fulfilled. I am happy and grateful for my journey so far, but I believe I haven’t reached my full capacity. There is still more I can do and achieve.

Beatrice: What advice would you give to the younger Sarah?

Ms.Attrams: First, don’t overthink! Things will eventually work out. Second, I wish I had taken learning the German language more seriously from the beginning, both in Ghana and here in Germany. Lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself.

Beatrice: What are your aims with your ongoing involvement in your career, and how would you want to be remembered?

Ms. Attrams: I aim to become the best version of myself and reach the pinnacle of my career. I want to be remembered as someone who wasn’t afraid to take on challenges.

Beatrice: What advice would you give to young Africans in the diaspora and back home in Ghana?

Ms. Attrams: We shouldn’t be intimidated or afraid to pursue significant roles. We have the potential and the right to achieve great things. Even if we don’t feel like we belong in a certain place, we can still strive to achieve higher goals.