Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]
FROM playful banter, challenging one another about who would do better academically, to acing Advanced Level examinations, two Bulawayo students are preparing for the biggest journey of their academic lives after getting accepted by top American universities.
The life story of Mikhail Ismail Hawa and Thabile Moyo, both aged 19, sounds like a fairytale.
From Bulawayo to the corridors of Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, Moyo and Hawa will be flying the country’s flag high in the Ivy League.
The Ivy League comprises some of the most prestigious universities in the US, including the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Yale University, Cornell University, Brown University, and Princeton University.
The two former Christian Brothers College (CBC) students are leaving for the United States in August.
Hawa attained 15 points at A-level in Mathematics, Physics and Biology, while Moyo scored 20 points in Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry.
They both want to study either Bio-Medical Engineering or Economics.
Hawa, a former CBC headboy, said he opted for the University of Pennsylvania ahead of Cambridge University, where he had also been accepted.
“I had always set my mind on UK universities such as Cambridge and Oxford and aimed to get myself accepted at these prestigious universities, but now my sights have evolved and I settled for an American university,” said the lad in an interview with Saturday Chronicle.
“I’ll be studying either Biomedical Engineering or Economics, but the way UPN (University of Pennsylvania) works is that a student is allowed to do two degree programmes within four years.
“I’m allowed to change degree programmes when my interests change, something that excited me about going to the University of Pennsylvania,” he added.
“Our friendship since we were in Form One has been supported by a healthy competition on who did better academically at the end of each school term and we also shared the same goals.”
With their eyes set on attaining good grades at A-level, the two friends started discussing university options.
“It’s really exciting to be going to America together, although we will be about three hours apart from Yale to UPN, and we are proud of being accepted at the two prestigious universities,” said Hawa.
Moyo cannot wait to settle at Yale University.
“We are ready for the culture shock because the way of life in America is different from what we are used to here. On the other hand, the idea of moving to the States is more exciting than daunting, so I’m looking forward to the experience,” he said.
“Studying at Yale is going to be an exciting experience as I’ll be meeting diverse groups of people from all over the world,” added Moyo.
They have both done their research to try and find out the names of some individuals from Bulawayo who have studied at Yale University and University.
“I know one guy from CBC, his name is Mandla, I think, who went to Yale University in 2014. I think I will be the second student from CBC,” said Moyo.
“I know one guy from St John’s College, whom I met during a public speaking competition, who went to UPN and another from Falcon College who studied there a few years ago,” added Hawa.
After the death of his father in the early years of high school, Moyo noted that his mother was struggling to give him and his younger sibling a good education at reputable schools.
It was that realisation that made him apply for a full scholarship, which he landed at Yale University.
The full scholarship will cover US$100 000 towards his education for each year for four years.
“When you apply for a scholarship, the universities look at the financial situation of your family and if they earn less than US$75 000 then you qualify,” said Moyo.
