- January 2017
Personal Statement
Jan. 28th 2017
My name is Jonah Wafula, I am from Uganda, East Africa, and I will graduate this summer from American Heritage Academy High School in Las Vegas as an International student on an F1 visa.
Growing up in Uganda, a very poor country where we live on less than $1 per day is unbelievably different to my life in the United States. I am the fourth born of nine children to a father and two mothers. Polygamy is common in Uganda. My father died when I was five years old from malaria, a very treatable illness, but he did not receive the proper treatment. At the time of his death, we lived in Mombasa, Kenya where my father worked in a hotel. My family travelled 618 miles from Kenya to Uganda with my father's coffin for his funeral. We had to sell all of our belongings so that we could afford to pay someone to drive us in their pick-up.
My family live in a very small shack and on less than $1 a day. We are without ELECTRICITY, PLUMBING, A BATHROOM AND OF COURSE TOILET PAPER. (we have many uses for banana leaves!) Our kitchen is a fire we make outside on three stones on the ground. You cannot begin to imagine how poor Ugandans are.
We could only go to school if there was money to pay for books and fees. Our "free" system is not free. It is not uncommon for kids to walk 6 miles to their school in bare feet and return home hungry because they cannot afford lunch. Many of my friends are in their 20s by the time they graduate from high school, because they have to stay home for years when there is no money to pay for their education, and jobs pay practically nothing. Some kids marry early because they are forced to drop out of school and are bored with life at home.
In spite of our hardships, Ugandans are a very happy race and we do not cry or complain about things that we cannot have or afford, like a birthday cake, a glass of milk or sports equipment.
My life changed in the Summer of 2014, when completely by accident I met a white woman from Corvallis, OR, who was teaching tennis to orphaned kids and she asked me to help her with the program. We became friends and she found a way to get me out of Uganda and I returned to the States with her. She is an angel sent to me by God, she is now my American mum, and my life has changed in a way that is still magical. I have never been to Disneyland, but for me every day is Disneyland. Traveling on a plane is something Ugandan kids can only dream about.
I am indebted to my lovely U.S. family, tennis friends and all of the other people who came to my rescue. I will always be grateful to them for believing in me and for supporting me on my incredible journey. For the first time in my life I am receiving a real education and my goal is to go to a U.S College, study Engineering and play tennis. I will be the first person in my family to graduate from high school and to go to college.
My prime reason for coming to the U.S. was to get an education, which happily is ongoing. I arrived at age 15 with the equivalent of a fifth grade education and I will graduate with a 3.3 GPA. My career ambition is to work at NASA in aerospace engineering and to be able to pay forward some of the incredible experiences gifted to me. One day when I have my profession in place, I will be able to buy a hectare of land in Uganda and have a house built for my mother. I am also an athlete and perform at the University level. My college experience like all of my other experiences here will be fabulous.
Since being in the U.S. I am privileged to play tennis and I have found a passion which drives and motivates me. I love the hard work, the training and the competitive spirit.
I currently train at the NO QUIT Tennis Academy under Coach Tim Blenkiron and I am part of the Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization that teaches its students the principles of hard work, honesty, and following what is right in life. Within the Foundation is an elite group of interns that is sponsored by the doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan. I am one of the group who was specially selected to be part of this program where I have volunteered in big events such as WTT Smash Hits and BNP Paribas Open. The foundation has helped me to become a mature and responsible young man. I know that I have the ability to be the first Ugandan to play professional tennis in the U.S.
My American family are retired and while they continue to support me within their means they cannot afford to pay my college education. I do not qualify for FAFSA because I am not a U.S. citizen. Once I attend college, I will be eligible to work on campus and support myself. Would you please consider awarding me a scholarship or a stipend so that I can continue my education.
With sincere gratitude. Asante Sana (Thank you)
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Jonah Wafula
