When Rosina Appiah talks about her daughter, Diamond, her voice brightens. There’s pride there, but also something deeper. Gratitude for a journey that began with one simple phone call and grew into a love of learning. Rosina speaks with excitement about how Waterford Upstart helped her daughter Diamond prepare for kindergarten and how that early foundation continues to influence her success today.
Rosina immigrated to North Dakota from Ghana ten years ago, determined to give her children every opportunity to succeed. Like many parents starting over in a new country, she carried big hopes for her children, and questions about how to support them in a new education system. Early learning mattered deeply to her, but the path forward was not always clear.
That path became clearer when someone in her community mentioned Waterford Upstart. “I called right away,” Rosina said. She didn’t want to miss an opportunity that could help Diamond start school with confidence. She enrolled her daughter as soon as she could, and from the very beginning, Diamond was hooked.
“She would beg me to use it,” Rosina laughed. “As a busy working mom, it helped me so much to know my child was learning. I could feel relaxed while she learned.”
That early enthusiasm grew into a deep love of reading and writing and did not fade after kindergarten. Now in second grade, Diamond reads well above grade level, shares ideas confidently in class, and writes stories in her free time. One day she even stayed in from recess to finish writing a story. Her teacher wrote on the page, “She is on track to be a strong writer. I’m so proud of her.”
For Rosina, these moments confirm the importance of early learning. “I never knew that foundation would lead to her loving to read and write as her hobbies,” she said. “Waterford helped her develop those foundational skills.”
As a mental health therapist, Rosina sees firsthand how confidence and early success influence a child’s sense of self. She often shares her story with other parents in her community. She wants families to know that resources like Waterford Upstart are available at no cost and can make a meaningful difference.
She believes strongly in the power of community voice. “Inner circle stories, especially from local community members, can help reach more families,” she said. She also believes programs like Waterford Upstart “discover hidden geniuses within our kids.”
Rosina hopes to see early learning opportunities expand so more children can benefit from the same strong start her daughter received.
Her story is a reminder of what can happen when families are given access, support, and a strong educational foundation. For Diamond, that foundation did more than prepare her for kindergarten. It helped her discover who she could become.