Albert Appouh was born into a disadvantaged family in Newark, NJ. His parents, both Ghanaian immigrants, divorced when he was a child. In Appouh’s late teens, he was institutionalized and diagnosed with mental illness. In spite of his race, low-income status, and mental disabilities, Appouh found the best way to overcome these challenges was to immerse himself in his studies and to stay active in his community by volunteering and taking on leadership responsibilities. Appouh has maintained excellent grades throughout college, has become a student leader for various extracurricular activities, and has regularly volunteered in several non-profit organizations. By taking the initiative to become a leader, and by having confidence in himself to succeed in any endeavor he chooses to take, Appouh found that not only was he capable of being an excellent steward of resources, people, and responsibility but that he had a passion for it.