Could you tell me more about where you grew up?
I grew up in Montserrado County in Liberia. Monrovia is the capital city, but Montserrado is the County and that’s where I actually grew up. I was born and raised in the 1990s, during the heat of the Liberian civil crisis. Liberia went through 14 years of civil devastation and unrest. I was born when bullets were flying all over the place. My mother explained to me how difficult it was for her to even get a blanket to wrap me in as a baby and for my dad to even get the few Liberian dollars needed to buy baby powder. So that’s why today, I really feel good whenever I see my relative or someone else give birth and everybody goes to the hospital to present gifts like baby clothes and other fancy things for the new baby. I never had that. I never experienced that. My entry into this world was never a glamorous journey and it would mark my challenges. But my journey also shows that it’s not about how you came into this earth or what you have, it’s about how you turn every situation around and find your own path. That child who never had a blanket and baby powder because of civil unrest was still able to find peace of mind. I am still that same child. These stories give hope to people.
When you hear resistance, what does that mean for you?
I always tell young people, don’t just do something because people want you to do it. All the people that are very important to you — your parents, your teachers, your mentors, your religious leaders – they might consistently tell you what you need to do, where you need to go, and why you need to do it. And don’t get me wrong, we all need that sometimes and I have had great mentors. But if you do not feel what they are talking about inside of you, if it’s not what you wake up to and go to sleep with, you need to respectfully decline. That’s what I’m defining as resistance.
With all the work that you are doing, what kind of world are you trying to build, especially for girls? What does a world that is a result of your work look like and feel like?
It would be a world where people would be able to live and respect each other, honestly, regardless of differences. Even amid the differences we talk about, there is still a sign of hope to love and support each other. Even if you don’t like me because of what I’m doing, there is still something you could find that you like about me if you search deep. We should treat each other with respect, with appreciation.
I imagine a world where every young girl is able to address her view, to be bold but also be objective. To always know that though you are bold and standing up, you can also take into consideration what the other person has experienced even if they do not respect you or understand what you are doing. Constantly putting myself in the shoes of people is how we make this work. If something is not working, don’t use it to judge and castigate somebody. These are things that breed hatred, tension, and all the bad things in this world. If something is not working, let’s see how we can fix it and find a way and talk about it. I believe whenever we go through a healthy dialogue, that constant engagement of communication on a particular issue, we will see something there that we appreciate about one another. Honestly, that is the world I’m really dreaming of. And I will not rest until we achieve it, I will keep serving until my last breath.
