Mentorship Sessions Begin: Veronica Arthur Inspires Students to Know Who They Are Beyond the Screen
The first episode of the STEM Festival 2026 Mentorship Sessions premiered with an inspiring conversation led by Veronica Arthur, a Mathematics Educator and mentor. Speaking to students in Cape Coast, Ms Arthur encouraged young people to look beyond social media, embrace their individuality and build a strong sense of identity.
Her session, themed around understanding your identity, challenged students to reflect on who they are when the attention, likes and validation of the online world are taken away.
Identity Beyond Social Media
Ms Arthur reminded students that social media often presents only the best moments of people’s lives. Behind the curated photos, achievements and perfectly framed stories is a fuller reality that is rarely shown online.
“Whatever you want to put on social media actually contains the 99% of our good side,” she said.
She encouraged students to ask themselves an important question: If all social media platforms disappeared today, how would they describe themselves?
For Ms Arthur, the answer lies not in followers, comments or online approval, but in character, values, purpose and the qualities that make each person unique.
Knowing Your Worth
A central message of the session was the importance of self-worth. Ms Arthur explained that true self-worth means having a personality and sense of value that does not depend on other people’s opinions.
“Having a self-worth is somebody that has a personality beyond people’s opinion,” she told the students.
She urged them not to allow online comments, comparison or external validation to determine how they feel about themselves. Instead, they should develop confidence in who they are and recognise that their value is not defined by popularity or public approval.
Values, Strength and Confidence
Ms Arthur also spoke about the importance of standing by one’s values, even when it is difficult. Whether facing peer pressure, academic setbacks or challenging social situations, she encouraged students to remain true to their principles.
“Know what to do and… know what you believe in and what you don’t believe in,” she advised.
She reminded them that everyone has unique strengths. Confidence, she explained, is not the absence of failure, but the belief in one’s abilities even after experiencing setbacks.
“Confidence is having belief in the strength you have,” Ms Arthur said.
Questions for Reflection
Ms Arthur left the students with three powerful questions for self-reflection:
Who are you when nobody is clapping for you?
What remains when success takes longer than expected?
If social media disappeared today, how would you describe yourself?
Her message was clear: young people must build strong personal character and identity so that they are not “shrunk” by the opinions or standards of the internet.
“Don’t let social media tell you who you are. But know who you are in person,” she concluded.
The Journey Continues
The first Mentorship Session set an inspiring tone for STEM Festival 2026. The sessions will continue to connect students with mentors, innovators and professionals who can guide them as they explore their potential in STEM and beyond.
The excitement continues with the Sci-Tech Innovation Challenge on December 1–2, 2026, followed by the Sci-Tech Fair Exhibition from December 3–4, 2026, at the UGEL Premier Domes, Legon.
Watch the first Mentorship Session with Veronica Arthur on the Primetime Limited YouTube channel:
The 2026 edition of the STEM Festival is produced by Primetime Limited and proudly sponsored by Jupay Money Transfer, Pepsodent, Cowbell, GTP, GhanaThink Foundation and UGEL Premier Domes.
