Personal Narrative: A Paradigm Shift

A paradigm shift can be the defining factor of one's life. When I started school as an overly-nervous six-year-old my mother said to me, "all I want from you is to do the best with what you have been given." As a six-year-old I never invested much thought into the statement, however, when it was repeated to me at the start of high school it had a far more lasting impact. Those words led me on an adventure to seize every opportunity that presented itself. My life very quickly became like an inner city mall during Christmas, congested and lively. I was simply another keen youth with an insatiable desire to succeed in everything. I initially achieved in most of what I set out to do: second in the grade for academics, A team athlete and cultural performer. However, even with all this early high school success the true 'me' was
still dormant.
In my life's busy novel personal achievements became the author and I just became the ink; doing what I thought was my purpose but instead was only what I was instructed to do.

Up until the tenth grade my life had been lived for other people. Everything I achieved was for the validation of my mother and remembrance of my brother. In a time when most of my friends were concerned with aesthetics and weekends I was all about achievements and weekdays. I had no idea who I was and I subsequently began exploring my identity. Two years passed and I attended the Global Young Leaders Conference in the USA. I had always envisioned of some day inhaling the same air as 'first world' citizens and leaders in hopes that it would somehow make me a better version of myself. However, during this unparalleled journey I came to the realization that
the only barrier between my dreams and reality was my limiting perspective. Who I am has no limitations the way words do, instead, key experiences have defined who I am. Through my brother's death I have emerged a giver. I have given of my abilities to my school, of my time to my community and family and of my passion to all those I have met along the way. Babson's diverse student body will give me the opportunity to develop my idea of giving and expand my global network. Through my upbringing as part of the first generation of 'born-free' South Africans I have emerged a believer. A believer that my abilities are world standard and that the opportunity to contribute to my personal and extended community is not just an idealized dream. I believe that entrepreneurial savvy can be the catalyst to poverty alleviation in South Africa and the opportunity to learn at an institution with an unrivaled reputation as the best in entrepreneurship excites me most of all. I sincerely believe that Babson is the institution for me.