Dear Committee,
When we set out on May 4, 2026, to build this structure, one thing was clear: our resolve to accomplish the mission was certain. We were charged, steadfast, and laser-focused on executing a mission. A mission that’ll soon become my legacy, your legacy, and OUR legacy.
We worked with remarkable speed and efficiency within a very limited time. Even more impressive has been our ability to come together after 26 years and work as though we were still sitting in Awo’s classroom. We inspired many, and many came to our aid with resources, ideas, and encouragement. They believed in us, so they were patient with us.
It is completely normal for tensions to rise during high-stakes group projects. The pressure of this project got to all of us at one point or another. There were mistakes that sometimes left us feeling hopeless, anxious, or discouraged. Our intense passion for the mission occasionally got the better of us. The stress of the calculations, coupled with the need to make tough, urgent decisions, could easily have caused us to disperse and fail.
BUT WE DIDN’T!
In fact, WE’VE WON!
The purpose-driven team that we are refused to relent. Through a shared commitment, we barreled through all adversities and emerged victorious. Epictetus reminds us that the greater the difficulty, the more glory there is in surmounting it. Skilful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests. We have certainly weathered our storms, and today, we have every reason to be proud.
It is therefore time for us to pause, appreciate, and take pride in how far we’ve come. There could not be a more appropriate moment for this message because, as we look ahead, victory is right before us.
The moments of caucusing and disagreements that sometimes threatened to turn us against each other are over. It’s time to forgive, make peace, and celebrate what we have accomplished together.
May I respectfully, most humbly, confess a sentiment of the most tender nature: I respect and honour you all for your endurance and relentless focus. Our struggles produced something greater than the sum of our individual efforts. Generations would know and emulate us. History would remember us. We, together, just authored that history.
So, on this day, Saturday, August 29, 2026, at this moment, let us set aside our differences and fully embrace this amazing success we achieved together. Let us use this rare moment to inspire hope, pride, and joy in the members. After all, the only reason we came together was to achieve one thing.
And WE DID!
I don’t know what the future holds for us after this project, but I know that I’ve learned a lot from every one of you, and as I return into oblivion, I am confident that our brief reunion will go a long way.
Thank you all for allowing me to do what I could. I hope this message is received in the spirit in which it is offered — a heart full of grace, appreciation, forgiveness, and gratitude.
Lastly, as we prepare to commission this structure, let us pause to remember Saahene, Richard, Sylvester, and all the departed souls of STOSA. We can only hope that they will be proud of what we have accomplished in their absence.
Thank you! 😊
Nana Owusu
Member – STOSA 2000 Year Group
