Alex’s negative image of crime and vice is not without some sparks, which continue to illuminate its bright side.
Terence Lesoga’s story is one of resilience, commitment and goal orientation in overcoming adversity.
Orphaned after his parents died months apart in 2014, while he was in Grade 9, Lesoga went on to be a top achiever in matric three years later, when he obtained two distinctions and seven passes at Realogile High School, which was ranked forth in performance among the township’s five high schools.
As the learner body president, his pact with the new principal was to improve the school’s image.
“We lived up to the commitment to ensure educational excellence by raising our performance to second position, with an 89.1 per cent pass rate, in 2017. Most of the learners obtained university and diploma entry qualifications, and there were few failures,” Lesoga said.
This occurred when he and his siblings were torn apart. The elder brother was surviving on piece jobs, his sister was married in Pretoria and the three younger ones remained alone at home in Marlboro.
“We endeared ourselves to a church and survived at the mercy of its pastors, who acted as surrogate parents, clothed, nurtured us and provided a monthly stipend of R300, enough for food at home.”
The elder brother checked on them occasionally until the pastors ‘adopted’ them at a Rembrandt Park home.
After the daily cost and inconvenience of traveling to school in Grade 11, he studied at night by candlelight, which aided his way to the Vaal Tech University.
“I am in the second year of a Bachelor of Commerce, Financial Accounting studies with three scholarships covering my accommodation and tuition.” Lesoga is indebted to his brother, who, as a security guard, paid his R8 000 registration fee.
“I hope I can be an example to others in struggling granny and child-headed households to believe in themselves. Don’t let negative circumstances detract you from your goals in education and your career. Appreciate and exploit the external support received to work towards a vision that also includes bettering your siblings and society.”
He is grateful to the Realogile School principal, who encouraged him with wise advice, the church which fed, clothed and gave them a family feeling, Afrika Tikkun, which provided him with an after-school study environment and access to a science lab, a rarity in township schools.
Lesoga urged his age mates to never abandon, but love, school and girls not to let unplanned pregnancies force them to give up their education. “Pick yourself up and learn from the mistakes.”
He said many were victims of rape and coerced sex for material gain that ruined their emotions and self-esteem because of the lack of mother figures for advice or to confide in when faced with problems. Boys, he added, faced similar challenges, when lack of support systems and positive role models led them into antisocial conduct.
“They are easily inspired by material lifestyles of fancy clothes, fun and teen dating at the expense of value-based and focused lives. Their mindset is caged in immediate and excitable things, which denies them time to reflect on their future.”
He urged them to realise that life was about changing oneself and others for the better and leaving behind a positive legacy.
Lesoga wants, after graduation, to run a training and empowerment programme for dropouts and jobless youth.
“I want to ignite their interest and talent in their career aspirations. Many lack self-belief and think it’s over with them, while others are just lazy to read and explore opportunities awaiting them.”
He is excelling in his studies and has his sights set on the Ivy League of academic excellence.
“It started in 2016, with my placement in the top ten in the National Entrepreneurship competitions among 15 000 entrants. I am now a member of the varsity’s Golden Key Honour Society, which is only by invitation to the top 15 per cent achievers in their faculty. It opens up opportunities and scholarships to top schools abroad and guarantees work opportunities.”
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