Sasasa Dlamini from Westville Boys’ High School has booked his spot at Harvard University in the US and is determined to learn from the world and bring it back to South Africa!
It is difficult to gain acceptance, even for American students, in the Ivy League institution. For a 17-year-old South African, the honour is almost unheard of.
Sasasa, from Umlazi, matriculated last month from Westville Boys High School, KZN with 7 A’s. In addition to his academics, he is an avid debater, representing KZN at nationals, and enjoys athletics (long jump) and basketball.
Regarding his time in the U.S., Sasasa writes “ I want to engage with people from different backgrounds from me, and truly broaden my horizons and my understanding as a global citizen. I’ve worked hard and played to my strengths…I want to stretch myself and my ability to help change the circumstances of people.”
“It’s a lengthy process to apply and it took me six months to prepare my application, which included four motivation essays, as well as a Skype interview and I had to take the SATs test (admission test for American universities).”
“There is a 6% admission rate and I didn’t tell my parents because I didn’t want them to have to share in my possible rejection.”
He plans to study economics and philosophy and is passionate about finding innovative ways of creating jobs when he comes back to South Africa.
“We need job creation which is sustainable. Wealth accumulation is a problem here and it is a structural issue. We need to be looking at a far wider wealth distribution. Philosophy teaches you how to think and expand your ideas.
“I enjoy reading autobiographies such as Steve Biko, who wrote so well. I like lateral thinking and exploring different avenues. I am just praying I don’t get there and fail. I want to be able to match up at all levels,” he said
His proud parents, Nichoulas and Thelma, have faith their son will succeed.
“We were ecstatic on hearing the news. We are so blessed. My wife and I believe in education and we invested in education for our three children. We come from uMlazi and feel indebted to this school, which is the epitome of what a school should be in our South African context in terms of transformation.”
The doors of U.S. educational institutions are open to all qualified students from around the world. The United States is proud of an educational system that attracts students and scholars from across the globe.
Education Advisers in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg provide guidance for study in the United States of America. They offer accurate, current and comprehensive information about all accredited U.S. higher Education institutions through orientation sessions and individual consultations, and maintain collections of useful publications for use by advisees.
For more information, please visit the official EducationUSA website.
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Wow gr8 achievement Sibal’khulu. #Proudtobesouthafrican. May God keep you under His wings to realize your dreams✊
Like Rudyard Kipling once wrote…”Your will be a man, my son!”. Well done young man. We need just one more like you to change the face of our country. God bless!