Ghanaian singer Jackline Acheampong, known in showbiz as Gyakie, has recounted the challenges she faced while juggling academics and music during her time at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), revealing that her first stage performance left her in tears and regret.

The “Forever” hitmaker, who pursued a degree in Business Administration, described her early days on stage as a nightmare. She recounted a particularly tough experience during Republic Hall’s SRC Week celebration, where a technical glitch made things worse.

“I was very scared during my first stage performance. I remember during the Republic Hall SRC Week, I went to perform and during that, the speakers went off. I didn’t know what to do, and some of the fans were hooting at me, while others tried their best to keep the atmosphere active,” she said.

According to her, the moment was so overwhelming that she broke down in tears backstage.“Nobody asked me to leave the stage. When I got backstage, I cried because I regretted going there,” she added.

Beyond the stage, Gyakie opened up about the pressure she endured in class, especially from lecturers who often singled her out.

“Sometimes, going to class becomes a bit uncomfortable because some lecturers know I am a singer, and they randomly ask me questions I am not ready to answer. Sometimes they throw questions at me that I don’t even know the answers to,” she shared.

She also touched on how the university's dress code for business students made her feel uneasy.“In terms of how I dress as a student, I sometimes became paranoid because I don’t feel comfortable in the prescribed dress given to the business student,” she explained.

Adding to the pressure were unexpected photo requests from fellow students during times she wasn’t feeling her best.“There are times I go to lectures and people would request for pictures—times I don’t feel good about myself,” she said.

Despite the tough beginnings, Gyakie has gone on to build a thriving music career, earning both local and international recognition.