Name: Tay Jones
Class Year: 2025
Major: English, Minor: Africana/Black Studies
Hometown: Springfield, VA
Internship Organization: Laɣim Tehi Tuma (LTT)
Internship Title: Titagya Schools Intern
Location of Internship: Dalun, Ghana
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I got to observe and learn how to participate in Ubuntu from the community of Dalun. The children especially taught me to live in untapped joy. They are free - free from the conceptions and fears Americans operate with. They make me want to loosen up.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I've grown up with a complicated understanding of origin. My father sought to sift through his sorted lineage as a descendant of slaves, while my mother, born to Ghanaian parents, enjoyed parts of Ghana's culture but not her family's native dialects. My mother lost her language as her parents learned that in England and the US, assimilation equals success. On both sides, there are unknowns - the complexity of my ancestry on my father’s side and how Twi and Fante would feel on my tongue. Questions like this led me to deeply immerse myself in the studies of Africa and the African Diaspora. In search of clarity surrounding my identity, I found myself enrolling in Inquiries into Black Study, Language Justice, and Education (IBLE). IBLE expanded my curiosity and desire to enroll in classes that encouraged more exploration of my people. Through IBLE, I heard about the Laɣim Tehi Tuma Fellowship. LTT gives me the chance to approach new experiences with an open heart and respect and appreciation for the Dagomba people hosting. I will listen to others intently and use my actions to convey messages that words can't. I intend to practice and learn more about clear and effective communication in English and Dagbani. I will rely on knowledge gained from past and current experiences and observations to work with different frameworks.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
Life is as complex as you choose to make it. You can have a productive, fulfilling day without it being packed to the brim with busy work.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Exciting, unexpected, challenging.
Love, community, beauty.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
Working with the children has been so fulfilling. They are kind and willing to introduce me to their culture while also intentionally trying to learn about mine.
Career & Civic Engagement Center English Africana/Black Studies