Write Love Letters with Your Own Words, Not AI -Counsellors to Students

First-year students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been advised to put down their phones and pick up a pen this Valentine’s season.

At an annual seminar organized by the university’s Counselling Centre, Clinical Psychologist Miss Akua Afriyie Addae encouraged students to express appreciation in thoughtful and meaningful ways. According to her, handwritten letters remain one of the most sincere ways to show love and appreciation.

“Write handwritten letters with your own words. Don’t let AI write it for you,” Miss Afriyie admonished. “Write to show how much you appreciate your partner. Let the words be words that carry appreciation and dignity and speak volumes to your partner. In the letter, indicate some of the things the person has done and say good things about the person for him/her to feel loved.”

The event, themed “Spicing Relationships for a Dynamic Lifestyle,” aimed to educate students and address their questions about the various relationships they experience on campus.

Miss Afriyie also advised students to embrace romantic relationships and accept them as part of normal human life. However, she strongly warned them to exercise self-control and avoid rushing into premarital sex. She explained that doing so can lead to several unpleasant consequences that may affect their emotional wellbeing and academic focus.

Beyond romance, the seminar addressed the challenges of living with roommates. Senior Counsellor Mrs. Bernice Peasah noted that some students feel suffocated or uncomfortable in shared spaces. She advised students to remain patient and communicate effectively by calling meetings to discuss boundaries, agree on rules, create duty rosters, and set preferences such as bedtime and when lights should be turned off.

In a separate presentation, Clinical Psychologist Miss Joan Soribang spoke on building habits for academic success, which she called a “Grade ‘A’ Mindset: Building Habits for Academic Success.” She guided students on effective learning strategies to help them excel academically in their respective programmes.

The event featured an interactive question-and-answer session, where counsellors took time to respond to students’ concerns and offer further guidance on relationships, academics, and personal development.