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Meet LawrenceMy name is Lawrence. I am a renaissance boy, motivated and determined in the face of challenges and unfavorable circumstances. I always seek new learning experiences and have been pushing forward in my life to study more and more. Gaining knowledge has always been my dream and the motivating power behind all my achievements in life. My background story is like a collage made from small pieces of pictures. When I was young, my father wasn’t around much. I lived with my two brothers and three sisters. Life was not easy for us, especially because my mother was left to do so much on her own. Sometimes she could not even afford one meal a day for us. In 2011, war broke out where we lived. Rebels attacked the village where we were living. They burnt down villages, shot down people, and kidnapped boys. It was here that I lost contact with my family but somehow managed to escape alive. |
Unfortunately, when I fled I didn't have any safe place to go, so I ran to the Catholic Church. I found safety, shelter, and kindness there. With the church's help and a lot of determination I made it to Zambia's capital city named Lusaka. There, I frequently looked for work on the street so that I could buy a bit of food for myself. I can't remember exactly how young I was then or how long I had to sleep on the street.
One day, I found shelter at an orphanage named Fountain of Hope. I always knew school was important so was very thankful to find educational opportunity there. It was challenging at first because classes were in English and I had previously learned in French. But through hard work I managed to keep pushing and later graduate Grade 12 from a top private boarding school in Lusaka.
It feels like yesterday when I began my journey of a thousand miles. Step by step, I've found myself here, but I know my journey is still going. Along the way I have been influenced and motivated by great thinkers including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Winston Churchill. These men wanted nothing but peace in this world, just like me.
Attending university would grant me the opportunity to learn participatory leadership and approach the world with a more positive attitude. University education is more than the next level of my learning process; it is a critical component of human development worldwide. It provides not only the high-level skills necessary for productive society but also the training essential for teachers, doctors, nurses, civil servants, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, social scientists, and so much more. It is these trained individuals who develop the capacity and analytical skills to drive humanity forward. They also support civil society, teach our children, lead effective governments, and inform people who make important decisions that affect our global community. I wish to continue with my education so that I can be one of these people who give back to my greater community, however possible.
One day, I found shelter at an orphanage named Fountain of Hope. I always knew school was important so was very thankful to find educational opportunity there. It was challenging at first because classes were in English and I had previously learned in French. But through hard work I managed to keep pushing and later graduate Grade 12 from a top private boarding school in Lusaka.
It feels like yesterday when I began my journey of a thousand miles. Step by step, I've found myself here, but I know my journey is still going. Along the way I have been influenced and motivated by great thinkers including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Winston Churchill. These men wanted nothing but peace in this world, just like me.
Attending university would grant me the opportunity to learn participatory leadership and approach the world with a more positive attitude. University education is more than the next level of my learning process; it is a critical component of human development worldwide. It provides not only the high-level skills necessary for productive society but also the training essential for teachers, doctors, nurses, civil servants, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, social scientists, and so much more. It is these trained individuals who develop the capacity and analytical skills to drive humanity forward. They also support civil society, teach our children, lead effective governments, and inform people who make important decisions that affect our global community. I wish to continue with my education so that I can be one of these people who give back to my greater community, however possible.
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