Maneuvering through the treacherous terrains of America’s Colleges/Schools of Education

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.