This is the one word that makes +- 2 million students in South Africa wake up every morning, some wake up to circumstances that most of us dread to even dream about. Most of the students wake up in families where breakfast is seen as a luxury, some wake up in situations where they have to walk more then 5km just to get to University or college, and if you were to ask these students what drives them to wake up in the morning. I believe the answer would be this word “success” this word is like steroids because it gives you extra muscles in your spirit to keep on working hard.

As a student of a humble background I have to admit that my definition of success is different to yours. Your definition of maybe “dating or marrying the most beautiful girl in town and driving a Merc”. We all define it in our own way; to some it is finding a job that will allow you to put food on your families table.

So desiring success is very good, what we do not realize is that sometimes the success that we badly want is at times, just trinkets and material that will not last even a year. Of course I can hear you muttering under your breath saying to yourself what am I talking about, your dream car will last you for years. And while you may be right in saying that, I urge to ask yourself this question, if you define your success by what type of car you drive and what type of house you live in when compared to others. Does this therefore mean that the moment you loose you car or house you are unsuccessful?

I strongly believe that we have fallen to the trap of western culture which tends to be too individualistic when it defines success. Success is only seen as something that the individual can only achieve by amassing wealth. There is no focus on inspiring and enriching other peoples lives. According to my African culture Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ this means that (I am * because we are*). Would it be too much us for to replace the stars with the word successful, this would then say (I am successful because we are successful). I strongly believe that if what you call success if not linked to changing other people’s lives for the better, then you need to redefine what you call success.

After seeing my mother work so hard just for me to get an education, it has dawned on me that success can only be achieved through taking good care of your family first, after all these are the people that will be there for you when all others desert you. Maybe we need to reorganize our priorities and work harder as students, not for our own sakes but also for the sake of those that are sweating blood just for us to attain education.

If you dream it you can live it, success is what we all want.

Senzo Mzila