As I emerged into my twenties, I felt ready to step into a new and challenging chapter of my life, one that would take me beyond familiar borders and deeper into my identity.
I’ve always been eager to explore my roots as an African American and understand how learning more about my heritage could widen my perspective as a Black person. So when I discovered New York University’s study abroad program in Ghana, I didn’t hesitate, I knew I had to apply.
ADVERTISEMENT
I arrived in Ghana excited to taste the food, hear the music, and embrace the welcoming culture. What I didn’t expect was how transformative the experience would be. Now, as I prepare to leave, I carry with me not only those initial expectations, but so much more.
New York University encourages students to take part in internships while studying in Ghana, so I applied to Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company. Intrigued by the company’s diverse creative outlets from journalism and social media content creation to filmmaking, I was eager to immerse myself. Between September 1, 2025 and November 26, 2025, I journeyed through various departments, starting at the Happy FM Digital Media Office, moving to E Productions, and eventually joining the YFM radio production team.
View this post on Instagram
For YFM, I wrote international entertainment news articles for the YFM website. These articles focused on covering the latest exciting reports on both Ghanaian and international stars. Under the YFM tag, “Skye Hill,” on the YFM website, my work can be found. I have also created “day-in-my-life” videos at work and at work events, showcasing my thrilling experiences as a newcomer to Ghana. Via my travel Instagram account, “skyeistraveling,” I’ve shown audiences what a typical office day entails, who I interact with, and what work I do. I’ve also posted my experience at my first professional football match in Ghana, along with the behind-the-scenes view I gained by attending the game with Happy FM.
GMABC provided me not only with practical skills for future work, but with experiences that I can cherish once I leave Ghana. Finally, I created thumbnails for Happy FM YouTube videos using Canva’s graphic design tools.
At E Productions, I acted in a Ghanaian school curriculum advertisement. I watched the ins and outs of a professional film set, while also getting the opportunity to be a participant! My work at E Productions employed my skills in front of and behind the camera, where I learned to recognize the time and care required for film sets and the best way to manage one professionally. I have learned sound engineering using Cubase and Logic, and have recorded radio advertisement voice-overs. With my supervisors’ help, I learned to use vocal variety and my acting expertise to create the most energetic and engaging radio voiceovers. Once these voiceovers were recorded, I utilized the intricacy of sound editing to make the audio as smooth as possible, going from a sound amateur to a master in a matter of a few months!
At YFM, I have written the Traffic Convos and “What’s Trending” topics for “The DrYve” radio show. I learned to curate these topics around the concerns and news being broadcast to Ghana’s youth. I often spoke on the radio show as well, talking with the radio host, Kojo Manuel, and the head producer, Reggie Reg, about our individual perspectives on the topics presented. We engaged in riveting and productive conversations about how my experience as a young American person can compare to that of a Ghanaian person. I have also acted as the co-producer with Reggie Reg on the radio production for this show, operating the music and ads.
I have gained many journalistic skills that will be valuable for journalism writing, as well as for any compelling storytelling I do through writing. Simultaneously, I learned how to be succinct and speedy in writing and developing the latest stories. I have learned the ins-and-outs of Canva, Inshot, TikTok, and CapCut for my video and photo editing needs. I know the key skills necessary for sound engineering that can apply to creating advertisements, jingles, commercials, etc. Finally, I have learned to use radio production software and equipment, and have gained skills applicable to DJing, a creative area that I never knew I’d love as much as I do.
Overall, my experience at Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company has been very fruitful. I’ve gained lifelong experiences in creative filmmaking, writing, and radio production that will help my future career in creative fields. I have learned about Ghanaian culture through work excursions, and through chatting with my coworkers. At GMABC, I have received a very warm welcome for my four months here, and I will always be grateful for the community that this experience has provided me.
