Financial constraints had pushed For Felix Quaicoe Baidoo out of school once; he thought it was the end until the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST stepped in.

That opportunity not only revived his dream of higher education but also set him on a path that led him to become the Valedictorian from BSc Land Economy, graduating with a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 83.07.

Felix’s early academic journey was promising but overshadowed by financial limitations. After completing Jukwa Senior High Tech School in 2019, his dream of pursuing higher education was halted by financial challenges.

“I managed to enrol to study law at a university in 2021, but halfway through the first semester, I had to defer because I couldn’t pay my fees. I didn’t know if I would ever be able to go to school again,” he recalled.

But just when the path seemed to close, an opportunity emerged. A friend introduced him to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST where he applied and was accepted. That opportunity became the turning point.

“Thanks to the Mastercard Foundation, I was void of any financial challenge. I was treated like a rich kid; all I had to do was study and focus on my academics. It felt like a dream if they hadn’t come through higher education wouldn’t have been possible.”

Although the scholarship opened the door, the journey was far from easy. Land Economy, a programme he chose because of its law component, turned out to be more complex than he imagined.

“I didn’t know much about the programme, I came for it because of my love for law. But I realised there was surveying, construction, building and areas I had no background in,” he admitted.

The unfamiliar modules became his biggest challenge. But with determination and consistent support from lecturers and colleagues, he adapted. One course, however, reshaped his entire academic self: Advanced Valuation, a difficult course that pushed him beyond his usual study habits

“It was a difficult course taught by two lecturers with different teaching approaches. At first, I tried to tackle it alone, as I always did, but I realised I needed people. Some people understood areas I struggled with, so we formed a study group, and that changed everything.”

What he gained from this experience went far beyond the classroom; it became a personal lesson in teamwork, humility, and the power of collaboration.

Felix’s journey was not driven by the pursuit of titles; he simply wanted to learn, work hard, and honour the opportunity he had been given. Yet for students who wish to attain such feet, he offers lessons shaped by his own experience.

“Don’t fixate on being a valedictorian. Focus on your courses now.  Work on what is before you. If you excel each year, it will all add up. Even if you are brilliant, there will be a course that challenges you. You will need to collaborate with people to succeed,” he advised.

Story by: Abena Agyeiwaa Brefo