Personal Statement
“Ke Nako!”. The vuvuzela’s trumpet sounds off as Bafana Bafana kicks off the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. “Ke Nako” is a Sotho phrase that translates to ‘the time has come!”, and for 7-year-old Michael, the time has come for the opening match; South Africa vs Mexico. I witnessed the top corner of the net ripple, and for the first time since the 1994 democratic elections, my country, South Africa, celebrated as a united nation for the entire world to see. An estimated 3.2 billion people tuned in to watch the first African nation host the World Cup Soccer tournament. At that moment, race, ethnicity, gender and class were irrelevant and instead, we were all seen as one nation, the democratic nation of South Africa. Growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, has been a very eye-opening experience for me. I attend one of the most academically competitive schools in the country, St John’s College, and I have been incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend this prestigious school.
My family is from the Portuguese islands of Madeira. Most people have never heard of the island. Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal, off the northwest coast of Africa. My grandparents emigrated to South Africa with the hope of a better future for themselves and their children. I am one of those children they hoped would grow and prosper. I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to grow up in such a different and diverse country.
Being South African is one of the unique parts and has given me invaluable life experience. Although I was not born during the Apartheid era, I have seen and experienced the long transition of the people into a more democratic society. It has shown me the struggle and poverty that many South Africans face every day. Playing youth soccer in South Africa has forced me to experience this even more than any other sport. On many occasions, matches took place in the townships (once underdeveloped racially segregated urban areas) of Soweto, Thembisa and Katlehong. I would arrive to be greeted by a dusty soccer field and wooden-framed goals. These are challenging conditions to play a soccer game. Moreover, while playing in the SAB League (3rd national Tier league in South Africa), matches in the townships were rough and intensely fierce. I was playing out of my love for the sport. The other team’s players were playing with the hope of becoming professional soccer players to finance their low-income families. These eye-opening experiences made me realise how fortunate I have been in my life. They help you grow, teach you to work hard constantly, better yourself and open your eyes towards what the future could hold.
Ultimately, my diverse background has led me to experience an abundance of different cultures, races, genders and religions. As a South African, my experience is unique and made me more socially and culturally aware that I can add value to any American College campus. This allows me to offer other viewpoints for students to consider, engage with, change minds and provide a different perspective.
It has always been my dream to come to college in the United States. A country whose moral backbone was built on the original pioneers. They are venturing west to forge better futures for themselves and their families. They all started with very little, just a dream and hope of a better life. I’m hoping my dreams become an opportunity to grow and give myself that once in a lifetime fighting chance.
