“I couldn’t even speak good English when I came to Accra” – cookie Tee recounts humble beginnings
Cookie Tee, despite her dazzling and intimidating appearance, was not born into a prestigious and glamorous family.
She has detailed her long road to achievement, which was riddled with obstacles, challenges, and disappointments.
Many people, she claims, are aware of her achievements but are unaware of her backstory. Cookie Tee (born Shirley Emma Tibilla) recently told Graphic Showbiz about losing her father, moving from Ho to Accra, and how he struggled with simple word spelling.
“I remember when I came to Accra; when I moved from the Volta Region to Accra many years ago, my mother wanted to enrol me in the best of schools. She took me to Achimota School but it was full so we couldn’t get admission and she struggled to put us in one of the international schools in Abeka called Harrow.”
“For my entrance exam, I couldn’t even spell words like mango and friend and that was the turning point in my life. My mother was extremely disappointed so she got teachers for me at home.”
“I would go to school in the morning, do afternoon classes after school and come home to do evening classes. When I started Harrow, I had to repeat Class Five. We were 79 in the class and I remember the first term I placed 16th, the second term I was 9th and the third term I placed 4th.”
“I was 4th until I left the school because there were three strong boys I couldn’t beat. I just want to give hope to people like me from humble beginnings, people who feel that there is nothing left in this world for them to know that it is possible if you put your mind to it,” she said.
On where she sees herself in the next couple of years, Cookie Tee said, “When you mention the name Cookie, I would love it to be a household one. You mention my name and everybody goes like ‘yes I know that lady on this TV station or I know this lady for that program.’
“I want to be able to give hope and life to young ones. I have always said that I didn’t start as this and I come from a very humble beginning. I just want to give hope to people who have never thought that they can become anything in life,” she concluded.
Cookie Tee also said she would love to settle down as and when she finds love.
“Right from when you are born as a woman, per our orientation as a Ghanaian or an African woman, every woman wants to get married so yes someday when God blesses me, I would love to settle down,” she stated.
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