US Embassy informs Limpopo learners of a beckoning world

Going to study in America on a prestigious Fulbright scholarship little over ten years ago afforded Lehlogonolo Mashola a life-changing experience, although it meant 22 hours’ flying from Polokwane where he grew up nurturing a passion for anything electronical.
On Monday evening the ATM specialist resident in Louis Trichardt went tripping down memory lane during a gathering coinciding with a Limpopo visit by representatives of the US Mission to South Africa. He revisited the year 2007 when he, during his practicals in electrical engineering at Tshwane University of Technology, was given the chance to further his studies at Santa Ana College in Los Angeles in California following an application which he personally went to drop off at the American embassy in Pretoria. He ended up as one of twenty students among an initial 160 applicants to be selected for a scholarship, flying to Iowa for two months in 2008 before moving to Los Angeles until 2009.
Describing it as an experience of a lifetime, he encouraged youngsters intending to furthering their studies abroad to take the opportunity to apply for a scholarship and, in case of being successful, go fulfil their dreams. “Education put me where I am today,” he remarked.

He nostalgically recalled his time in America and mentioned that he had travelled to eight destinations across the world and in Africa upon his return.
The evening event was preceded by an information session on the possibilities for study in the US held at Ditlalemeso Secondary School in Mankweng and attended by an estimated 500 learners from schools as far as Mogwadi’s Dendron Secondary School earlier that afternoon. Among the guests at the reception was Ditlalemeso Secondary School Principal Mike Mothiba who said the first information session by the embassy went well. According to him about five learners from the school seemed serious about the applications for studies in America and he alluded to assistance with their applications. After the information session learners had alternative options available for the future, he reckoned and expressed the hope that one of the learners from the school would go fly the school’s flag high in the US.
As a small party of guests met at a local establishment for an evening of networking, Bongekile Radebe who is Programmes Specialist with the US Embassy said their main audience during the information session of EducationUSA that day had been made up of Grade 10 to 12 learners from well-performing schools with whom they shared accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date advice on how to access close to 5 000 US higher education facilities compared to the 26 public institutions in South Africa.
The delegation was due to travel to Thohoyandou the following day for a meeting at the University of Venda.
In a statement issued by the Embassy of the United States it was highlighted that annually an estimated 2 000 South African students enrol with American colleges and universities. “US higher education institutions are recognised worldwide for the quality of their programmes, faculty and facilities. Their emphasis on leadership and providing a global perspective are often two of the most appealing qualities for South African students.”

Story: YOLANDE NEL
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