Naa Dromo Korley
Honorable mention female Scholar-Athlete
Naa Dromo Korley
Centennial
Grade-point avg.: 3.99
$1,000
Sports played: Volleyball (4 years), basketball (4), track (2)
Academic highlights: National Honor Society member; Academic Excellence Award winner
Athletic highlights: First-team all-league in basketball and volleyball; OHSAA student ambassador
College choice: Ohio State (anticipated major: medical anthropology)
Photo location: Outside the Wexner Medical Center on Ohio State’s campus
Home front: My mother’s name is Mabel and my dad’s name is Eric Korley. I have two younger siblings: my brother, Judah, is 11 years old and my sister, Naa Shidaa, is 15.
Favorite subjects: Anatomy and physiology. I love the human body. It’s quite marvelous how God created all of these pieces to fit so perfectly with each other. Anatomy class is always something I look forward to. Don’t get me wrong, the class was tough and my teacher, Mr. Dobbins, pushed me. Now did I enjoy him pushing me in the moment? Psssh, no. I got frustrated, but I now see why. He helped me learn more about the human body than I ever knew. He helped me break bad study habits and form new ones. He gave me just a taste of what college would be like. The human body, man, it’s marvelous and beautiful. The body and the function of all of the different parts is astonishing. Anatomy brought me so much joy, from our notes and quizzes to cat dissections. I enjoyed every part of it.
Least-favorite subject: Probably AP Literature. I didn’t enjoy that class because I didn’t like reading long and wordy passages. That class took a lot of time commitment, and being a student-athlete was challenging already. I loved my teacher and the students in the class were definitely something, but the class itself, I despised it. I cried so much about that class, so many sleepless nights. However, I am proud to say I made it! Thank God I took that class, because I really feel prepared for the honors courses I’ll be taking at Ohio State.
Prized possession: I love wearing lip gloss. I wear lip gloss everywhere, but not the kind that leaves your lips feeling sticky.
Favorite book: I know it sounds cliché, but the Bible has helped me in so many ways. It always leaves me in shock: How could a book written over 3,400 years ago still have answers to the problems I face in my life? God is just so great! Reading the Bible helps me get even closer and connected to Him, and gives me peace and hope.
Favorite movie: Probably “Annie,” the adaptation starring Quvenzhane Wallis. It made me smile and cry! It was such a sweet movie.
Favorite television show: I’ve been dying to be asked this question. I recently started watching and finished “Money Heist,” on Netflix. My best friend put me on to that show and when I tell you that show will have you feeling all types of ways! This show always kept me on my toes! The ending just … man, just watch it!
Favorite musicians: I don’t really have a favorite; it just depends on my mood. If I’m leaning toward more of a worship night, then I’d go with Osby Berry. His voice is just amazing, it moves me. My go-to is usually African music. For that I’d go with either the rapper EL, King Promise, Sarkodie or Gil Joe. I can’t pick only one.
Essential apps: I love FaceTiming my friends. I think the only reason why I love that app is because of COVID-19 and social distancing.
Favorite home-cooked meal: Ooh, this is a tough one because Ghanaians know how to cook! I’d have to pick white rice with kontomire, which is basically spinach stew. You can eat kontomire with plantains, rice, yams, etc. My mom prepares this meal, but I also know how to prepare it myself.
My cooking specialty: My fried rice is the bomb. I can use any vegetables and seasoning to make an amazing plate!
Favorite restaurant: Bravo. My favorite meal there is lamb chops with mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy. Their bread appetizers with their sauce is literally mouth-watering. Definitely would recommend it!
Guilty pleasure: Binge-watching Netflix in my care-bear onesie.
Proudest sports moment: When I was featured in The Dispatch Sports section and 10TV News.
Sport I’d like to try someday: I’d like to try lacrosse because the girls at school who play that make it seem really fun. I like the excitement it brings.
Story behind my uniform number: I have always admired Kevin Love and he wore 0. But we didn’t have 0, only 00. I love how it looked on my jersey. It looked threatening.
Favorite athlete: Stephanie Mavunga is my favorite basketball player! I just love the energy she plays with! She’s a beast. No challenger!
Inspiration: My dad is a tough person who is always pushing me to be the best version of myself. He’s brave, resilient and determined. He has taught me to reach higher and take advantage of the opportunities I have as a Ghanaian-American. My dad and I butt heads a times, but I know he loves me and wants the best for me. My dad has shown me what it looks like to serve God with all of your heart, and to put others’ needs and family before himself. My dad has shown me what forgiveness looks like. I will make him and my mother proud. This was a tough choice between my mom and dad. I really love them both; they’ve sacrificed a lot just so my siblings and I can have a blessed life.
Dream job: To become an obstetrician-gynecologist or a pediatric surgeon. I love the health-care field. I attended a medical summer camp at OSU which had an aim of increasing underrepresented groups in medicine. There, I realized the many health-care disparities in the medical field. I want to help Doctors Without Borders and bridge the gap of disparities.
Place I’d like to travel: I’d love to go to Paris, such a beautiful city. I’ve always wanted to take pictures next to the Eiffel Tower and eat expensive dishes and enjoy the sun on my face.
Something most people don’t know about me: I love to bake.
Least-favorite household chore: Cleaning the bathtub! Every time I clean the bathtub someone always gets it dirty, then it looks like I didn’t clean it at all.
Something I can’t get right no matter how hard I try: Drawing a self-portrait. I’ve come to terms with not being artistic. I’ve tried so many times, but the picture in my head never turns out to be what I draw.
Words to leave by: “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” — Philippians 4:13
By Ray Stein
rstein@dispatch.com