I am a young man born 1989 in Kwa-Zulu Natal, and grew up in the North West, but currently studying psychology in the North West University in Vaal Trinagle (Gauteng). I am a last born in a family of five and I have big dreams, thanks to my life experiences.

ericI started primary school at the age of seven, attending at Vaal Reefs Primary School and I was one of the best learners they ever had during and after my time at the school. I completed my matric in 2002, and went to the Vaal Reefs Technical High School and stayed there for six years due to my failure when I was doing grade nine. There were many factors that lead to my failure, and my life through primary and high school wasn’t at all pleasant.

I lost my father when I was doing my grade five, due to the separation between him and my mother. After my parents separated, we lived in different in many people’s home, you can only imagine what that does to a human being, and we obviously got different receptions, most bad. I went through my primary with handouts from people, but that never brought me down, it only made me stronger and through that I acquired a great and very rare kind of self-esteem. Fat, I would never have managed if it wasn’t for the likes of Mr Rapitsi, Mr Hlakoane, Mrs Nobula and Mrs Funo among many other people, my family being the first in the list.

The very same happened in high school, but it was a little different then because I fell into the hands of the right people. Mrs Sebolai who took nothing else but the oath to shape me to being the man or child they all knew I am meant to be. Other people were Mrs Lechesa, Mrs Wade and many more. It was difficult, I must say because I started having frequent sicknesses with doctors giving me different information at all times. My biggest fear during high school was what would happen after schooling. I knew that my family couldn’t afford to take me to University and my progress was not as to my abilities’ dictations. That question evaporated for good when I got a bursary last year from the Stuart Ntlathi Science Engineering and Technology institute.

When I was in high school my sense of independence grew and I started playing the role which my father had failed playing. I was a bread winner at home and that drove me to sacrificing things like fun, though I could never sacrifice sport, I play nine sporting codes and I excel in all of them. I was sometimes fascinated b y the way I have lived my life through high school. As not at all typical, I was not into alcohol and parties and I always lead a life that each and every parent desires for his/her child. Through all those encounters, I always managed to get the better of life, hence I say life has never been unfair.

My life has always been shaped by two things ,myself,my family and the society as a whole. I am one of the respected and valued youth in Vaal reefs, that is not because I have some form of wealth, but because I have managed to represent my people in a manner that suits and describes them best. that is why my dream is to see myself as a difference makers in our communities, country and ultimately in the world. I believe that I have such qualities as I understand how it is to be subordinate and inferior in the eyes of the world. I believe that our dreams exist within us ad await us to discover ourselves before we can start dreaming.

I am currently doing a course that will allow me to understand human nature and human shelter. I dedicate myself to a dream of alleviating my family from the humble world they live in and of course of being a stepping stone and pacesetter for the alleviation of our societies.

With Montshepetja I intend to be the anchor of what the youth comes across and what they can be in all areas of reality, sports, education and general life. Montshepetja will in this respect be a stepping stone to the alleviation and emancipation of the youth.