AN INTERVIEW WITH IRENE BOSSMAN ON 10QFNC

You know there are some people who just look intelligent? You do right? Back in school you could see a fellow student and just know they’ll be smart. My guest today is that kind of a person. She did her masters at the Glasgow Caledonian University, in Diabetes Care and Management. Besties, let’s have a chat with Irene Bossman.

Good morning Irene and welcome to 10QFNC

Good morning Alby

Let’s start from here;

Q1. How would you describe your childhood?

My childhood memories were good. As the eldest child of both parents, I grew up as a quiet and bright child.

Were you always 1st in class?

Yes. Lol, mostly first. There were few times, I came 2nd in class from primary to JHS. But yeah, I was usually in the top 5 in a class.

Q2. Being this intelligent, were you not lured to attend Gey-Hey too?

Good question. Actually, left to me alone, Gey- Hey would have been my 1st choice school.
However, being raised from a staunch catholic family; I  was akin to choosing a catholic school. Hence, I considered Holy Child. Then followed the issue of schooling in Cape- Coast and its travelling distance from Kumasi. Basically, my family supported I  considered a school in Kumasi, which made me select St. Louis at the end.

Q3. How was the experience in St Louis?

My experience in St. Louis was great. I love the school for everything I  learnt, as well as the good friends and colleagues I made.
I tried to engage in various activities- including athletics.

I also became an assistant chapel prefect, and was part of the brilla team- (not a main contestant)

Q4. Talking of brilla, what do you think is stopping your alma mata from winning the NSMQ?

Lol, I think there’s a general trend in the country where most girls’ schools struggle to win the overall NSMQ competition. I think it’s the same for Yaa Asantewaa and the others too.

Girl… no stray bullet for my school will be tolerated lolx.

Hahaha, that was a straight punch 😃

Q5. Why Nursing in uni?

To be honest, I never thought I will become a nurse. It was the last (4th) choice in my courses selection at KNUST. I think talking about my whole experience of eventually completing a nursing degree eventually will be another discussion.

My first choice programmes were medicine/dentistry, but it became a struggle to get an admission. I reapplied the subsequent year, but I wasn’t successful for a regular admission, and couldn’t afford fee- paying at the time.

Consequently, I concentrated on the nursing as the available option, and put in my best to excel at it.

You sure did. Are you still practising as a nurse?

Yeah, I work as a clinical nurse specialist in Diabetes and Endocrinology.

Q6. Any special reason you chose Diabetes Care and Management?

Following completion of my nursing degree, I worked in a private facility where I supported and cared for people with long- term conditions like Diabetes and Hypertension.

Also, my quest of doing something more than just being a general nurse. I was keen to undertake postgraduate studies in advance nursing practice. I dilligently applied to different schools and scholarships abroad, and by God’s grace I was successful to get a commonwealth scholarship (on my 3rd attempt) to pursue a masters in diabetes care.

I completed my masters in diabetes successfully, and have since started a career in diabetes nursing with the aim to support people living with diabetes and related complications in the UK

Q7. How did you meet your husband?

Haha😃, we met in Scotland during my studies.

What made you accept he is THE ONE?

Eh😃 3rrm. We were friends for awhile, shared some commonalities and took it a step further 😀 with God’s help.

Q8. Did it take anything away not having your whole family physically present at your wedding?

Wow wo, h3rr Alby

Of course, we would have loved their full presence. The current pandemic poses restrictions on travel and stresses on social distancing as measures to reduce infection spread.
Yet, they still participated fully and shared in our joy either physically or remotely.

Q9. What do you do for fun?

I enjoy listening to music and reading.

Gospel only I presume

Not all the time. I do listen to christian worship songs , but I occasionally enjoy afrobeat songs from West and South Africa as well

Ooouu that sounds interesting to me

Yeah, I sometimes dance to these tunes in my room to keep active😀

Q10. Planning to go into academia? Professor Irene Bossman?

Definitely. It is part of my long-term career goal to pursue an academic career. I am developing my clinical skills and knowledge in my specialty before I zoom into the academic direction again.

Irene, I loved rubbing minds with you. I wish you very well.
Any last words?

Thanks Alby for the invitation.
I will add that – we should encourage ourselves to excel in all we do, and be a blessing to people. God is our strength.