The eighth edition of the TrueLife Campus Conference was held on September 14 to inspire young people to live their lives authentically.

The event, dubbed Exploring My Essence, assembled erudite panelists from media, finance, academia, and entrepreneurship.

The convener of the conference, Dedo Kofi, said the event aimed to help young people navigate life with clear heads and assist those who have lost their way to realign their thoughts.

"I started this program to help students realign their thoughts," she said in her welcome address.

Madam Kofi explained that this was the only way individuals could live their best lives and meaningfully contribute to society.

She urged young people to reject the pressures of conformity that push them to look, act, and follow a particular path, adding that "Our deepest expression of self comes when we live authentically."

The convener advised the young participants not to simply mimic those they admire but to embrace their individuality.

"It’s always better to 'do you' and show up as you are. If you consistently ask yourself who you are, you can avoid the trap of mirroring others," she said.

Sharing her personal story, Madam Kofi recalled how her parents pushed her toward a particular career path and how she initially lacked the courage to express her true desires. On the back of this, she said, "Find what you love to do and express yourself from that place."

Nearly moved to tears, Kofi thanked her former physical education teacher, who was present at the event, for the impact her words had on her life. "You never know how far your kind words can go," she said.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Leadership at Ashesi University, Dr. Esi Ansah, speaking on uncovering your true identity, shared a similar sentiment with Dedo Kofi.

In her case, society was pushing her to follow her father’s path. However, she encouraged the audience to carve out their own paths rather than live up to others' expectations.

Recalling her own experiences, she said, "People wanted me to follow the path my father took, but that would have made my life meaningless."
Dr. Ansah acknowledged that it’s normal to feel uncertain in the early stages of life.

"Many of us are still figuring things out, whether it’s academia or other aspects of life—and that’s okay," she said.

However, she stressed the importance of discovering oneself, since failure to do so would lead to others filling that void.

Juxtaposing life to a sandwich, she said, there would always be people ahead and others behind. However, the focus should be on oneself—the "meat in the sandwich."

"You are the meat of the sandwich. Focus on yourself," she said.

She explained that the competition is not with others but with oneself. She stressed, "Set your own standard and strive to beat it. It’s not about competing with Kofi [someone else], but about competing with yourself."

Voiciferous journalist Bernard Avle also touched on overcoming self-doubt. He said there is a connection between self-awareness and confidence.

He explained that an individual’s inability to know themselves leads to self-doubt, stressing that it is important to know one’s self and abilities.

During the process of discovery, he said, there are always going to be dark seasons in life. However, only the wise make use of them.

"Seasons of darkness are precious because they help define us," he said, explaining that there is a need to focus on personal strengths and cultivate discipline and a positive attitude, as these are keys to long-term success.

Reflecting on leadership, Avle encouraged participants to see crises as opportunities for problem-solving rather than obstacles.

"The systems abroad are favorable because someone paid the price to make them better. We are here not to enjoy a good life but to build one," he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of Goba Kente, Baaba Ankrah, tackled the subject of self-love in a world of filters.

She shared her struggles with self-esteem, recounting how she initially felt out of place during her first year at the University of Ghana. Although she had worked hard to pass all her papers despite studying in a remote village, she did not love herself enough to give herself credit for her accomplishments thus far.

Madam Ankrah advised the audience to take cues from her life and be very appreciative of themselves while working hard to become the best in their endeavors.

She encouraged participants to surround themselves with supportive people who believe in their potential. "The people who love you will help push you beyond your limits," she added.

Additionally, Ghanaian businessman and former military officer Prince Kofi Amoabeng focused on the importance of developing a strong value system, noting that values are essential to maintaining balance and preventing many avoidable mistakes.

He added that a lack of these values in the country has contributed to the leadership problems and the inability to build the nation.

The ex-serviceman charged the youth to brace themselves for the work required to restore the nation to its glory days.

"If you say Ghana is hard and leave, there will be no problems left for you to solve," he said.

He also recalled moments of racial discrimination that made him feel like a "fifth-class citizen."

"It’s not nice being abroad. Strive to build Ghana," he said.