“This Is Not Just a Degree; It’s an Investment in My Entire Future,” Says Business Student, Alhagie C.

Alhagie C., a Gambian national living in Banjul, is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at University of the People while working full-time as a teacher. As the eldest of nine children, Alhagie has spent much of his life balancing responsibility with his determination to build a better future.

Alhagie grew up in the small village of Dampha Kunda in Basse, where his father was a farmer and his mother grew and sold vegetables at the local market. When he was just seven years old, he lost his father. Financial challenges followed him throughout his education, but scholarships and support from his uncle helped him continue his studies.

He eventually attended Gambia College, where he earned a diploma in education, majoring in Science and Social and Environmental Studies. After graduating, he began his career as a teacher. While education became his profession, he continued to dream of earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

“I want to understand the mechanics of commerce—not just as a participant, but as a creator,” he explains. “My ultimate dream is to build sustainable businesses that can provide jobs and solve pressing local problems.”

For years, Alhagie hoped to study in the United States. His plans appeared to be taking shape when he was admitted to Wartburg College in Iowa to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. But on his way to his visa interview, he was involved in a serious car accident that left him with bone fractures and significant injuries.

“I was hospitalized, and everything went back to zero,” he recalls.

While recovering at home, Alhagie continued searching for universities. During one of those searches, he discovered UoPeople.

The university offered him a way to continue his education despite the financial challenges he faced. He submitted his high school and college transcripts and received his admission decision within about two weeks.

For Alhagie, UoPeople’s flexibility has been particularly important. He works full time as a teacher while helping support his mother and younger siblings. His days often begin at 5:30 AM, followed by a full day of work, family responsibilities, and coursework.

“I can be on a packed bus on my way to work, reading my course material on my phone,” he says. “It’s a self-paced, self-directed form of learning that has forced me to become incredibly disciplined.”

He also values the diversity of perspectives he encounters in his courses. In his Business Ethics course, he worked with students from rural India, the United States, Germany, and Ghana. Their different experiences turned classroom discussions into opportunities to understand how people from different backgrounds approach real-world issues.

“It wasn’t just an abstract case study about a corporation’s responsibility; it became a real-world debate,” he says. “I learned as much from their lived experiences as I did from the textbook.”

Balancing work, family, and university is demanding, but Alhagie remains motivated by the progress he is making.

“Every time I submit a perfect assignment or receive a high grade on a quiz, I feel a surge of pride,” he says. “This is not just my degree; it’s an investment in my entire future.”

After completing his education at UoPeople, Alhagie hopes to pursue an MBA at a traditional university, potentially in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada. His long-term ambitions, however, extend beyond his own education.

He hopes to establish a logistics and delivery company connecting small-scale farmers in rural communities with restaurants and supermarkets in the city, helping reduce food waste and create economic opportunities. He is also considering establishing a professional recruitment and HR outsourcing agency in Gambia.

Alhagie also wants to give back through education. One of his goals is to establish community-based learning centers in his hometown that offer digital literacy classes to young people and women. He hopes to eventually write a book about his journey from poverty to university to inspire others who may be facing similar circumstances.

Outside of work and studying, Alhagie enjoys playing football with friends, spending time at the beach, and reading. He is particularly interested in biographies of successful entrepreneurs and books about personal finance and personal development.

For Alhagie, earning his degree is about far more than professional advancement. It is an opportunity to turn years of challenges, perseverance, and responsibility into something that can benefit his family and community.

His journey from a small village in Gambia to a global university reflects his determination to keep moving forward, regardless of the obstacles in his path. As he works toward his degree and the ambitious goals that lie beyond it, Alhagie is turning education into a foundation for entrepreneurship, service, and opportunity.