Mako reflects on first year in the US
In August last year Mako Makoanyane and Lesia Thetsane became the first members of the Kick4Life Academy to secure fully-funded academic and soccer scholarships at universities in the United States. Mako began studies in engineering while Lesia studied Associative Arts. As there first academic year comes to an end, Mako reflects on the experience so far...
Our first year was amazing. I got the best welcome here and everyone has been very kind and supportive. There is no point in time where I feel lonely or miserable as my teammates and my newly made friends are always here for me. Everything is going well and most importantly education and my football, which are basically my priorities in the U.S. I have the most helpful and supportive student success navigator who really makes my school life very easy and enjoyable. And making it All State in this past season has been the greatest achievement and has surely opened more doors for me; It was an epic season!
Leaving home and having to live somewhere I have never been before for the first time was scary, however I adapted and realized that I had to forget about what and whom I left behind; I realized I had to focus on my own progress in life. Basically, staying in the U.S has helped me grow; it has taught me how to face challenges and deal with them on my own. I have also realized that it is very important to make friends.
My plan is to get a football professional contract after I finish my degree in water engineering. I want to take football as a career because it is what I love and what I want to see myself succeed in. After going as far as I can in the game I want to start my own engineering business and create jobs for other people. I want to build shelter for underprivileged children from unfortunate backgrounds. I have also realized how hard it is for so many people in my country, Lesotho, to get scholarships to further their studies after high school, and I want to by all means possible help as many as I can.
I always had these dreams, all these plans but I never saw how I was going to reach them or make them possible until Kick4Life gave me this opportunity. Everything is clear now and I see what I am actually striving for. Living in the U.S itself is a dream come true, and all thanks to Kick4Life; I am living a dream. All blessings to Kick4Life and all they are doing to help change lives in Lesotho.
