A first-generation Tiger reflects on a new sense of family.

Coming thousands of miles away from home in Accra, Ghana, I least expected to find another home, another family, or to feel so attached to this place I had never even heard of before my grad school search began. Yet, here I am two years later, a proud Tiger; my blood runs fiercely orange.
I arrived at Clemson excited about this new adventure and reassured by the warmth of the people I had interacted with during my application process. Besides, how bad could it be? Bad? It turned out far from that; it’s been pretty awesome! My time here has been a roller coaster of academic rigor, cultural discovery, good friends, warm people and a welcoming community. As an international student, I fully cherish the open-mindedness of my Tiger family. I appreciate being held to the same standards as my fellow students from America, not patronized or dismissed in spite of cultural differences. People here are friendlier than any other place I ever traveled to. It’s amazing I discovered this school through a random search on Google!
From the first football game to the rigorous course work and tutoring I did in the writing center, I quickly adopted the determined spirit of a Clemson Tiger. I racked up diverse experiences I doubt I would otherwise have had (I never saw myself white-water rafting, that’s for sure). I have been an active member of the community, a grad student, freshman composition teacher, tutor, volunteer, a TEDxClemsonU speaker. I’m proud to say I have helped other internationals like myself to enjoy their Clemson experience by serving in several organizations such as the cultural exchange community and the international students association.
Graduating with a master’s degree in professional communication, I leave Clemson with a sense of accomplishment, and look forward to being an active alumna representing the school proudly wherever I go. Traipses through the gardens, hiking haunts, lakeside lounging, 36-hour days, afternoons by the reflection pond, evenings downtown, and nights at Cooper library — I’ll miss it all.
I still can’t get over the feeling of that first game in Death Valley and the deafening chant that rang in my ears for days after that … “C.L.E.M.S.O.N. T.I.G.E.R.S. fight tigers, fight tigers, fight, fight, fight!” Wherever I go, this chant will fondly remain with me. I love to share my Tiger spirit. Somewhere in Accra, Ghana, my brother sports a Clemson T-shirt, and somewhere in London, UK, my baby nephew wears the cutest Clemson jersey and socks. I’m proud to be a first-generation Clemson Tiger.

I’m Cynthia E. Ofori-Dwumfuo and this is my Clemson!

A 2012 MAPC Clemson graduate, Cynthia E. Ofori-Dwumfuo earned a B.A. in economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. She currently is interning with VOX Global, a strategic communications and public affairs firm in Washington, D.C.