To choose doubt as a philosophy of life.

by Palesa Mogorosi (South Africa)

A leap into the unknown South Africa

“To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.” – Pi Patel from the book Life of Pi. Often at moments of wonder, it is easy to avoid small thinking. As people, we tend to seldom entertain thoughts that would span the universe; that capture both thunder and tinkle, thick and thin, the near and the far. My travel story was a leap into the unknown. It begins with an opening ceremony of African dancing and the passionate sound of the mbira instrument inside of the hands of a beautiful, young Kenyan girl. I was at the African Leadership Academy Open Day. I was enchanted by all the different African ethnicities and common shared values. It was quite a spectacle! Flattered as I reclined on my seat, I asked myself: how did I end up here? I took a sip of the strong and natural Ethio coffee, and decide to page back into my mind. Viola! I remember! I can admit that it may be one long story but also, it is one which surely begins somewhere. In other words, it took me quite a long road to get to where I am today and essentially I stand to believe that my journey is indebted to something particular that actually activated my movement. It was a gut feeling – an impulse which persistenty prompted me to start and never stop. In virtue of this feeling I yearned to move and reach; to touch and feel; to grow and improve; or to even fall yet rise back up again and still move. I desired to not only exist but to live and that was incredibly more fulfilling. Two of the most memorable and significant dates in my life are definitely the 23rd of November 2018 followed by the 21st of December 2018. The former being the day I had just been announced as a finalist for admission at the African Leadership Academy upon my application, and the latter bearing my fate (the final decision). In fact, these were two of the most lifechaning moments in my life culminating in an experience that truly defined one of my most fundamental values and that happens to be determination. This is true because when I had applied at the African Leadership Academy I was intrigued; I was curious and genuinely in disbelief. My curiousity was sparked when I had realised how the school incubated a network of diverse and dedicated people from all walks of life on the African continent, who felt very attached to the their ideals as they sought a new appraoch in leadership. Coming from a background of a traditional public school, I was amazed at how education was created to suit the current needs of our society and economy by catalyzing skills that will empower young people to become the next generation of leaders in Africa. By the time I attended their Beyond Education Summit and learnt how they designed a rigorous curriculum which established opportunities that allowed young people to share their ideas and foster connections while enabling them to translate their ideas into action, I was intrigued and prepared to become a part of their community. Eventually, I may not have been granted admission at the African Leadership Academy but I was bestowed with an eye-opening experience that became a stepping stone to my personal growth and development. This community of freethinkers taught me that no idea is a bad idea and thus that was the first time that I had received an email of rejection but did not despair. Rather I felt grateful, considering prior to ALA I was an empty person who pitied myself for all my failures and felt unmotivated to challenge myself. Now I can attest that indeed my thinking has transformed and by virtue of this, I approach life differently with much more eager and positivity. I can affirm that I am a work in progress and so being doubtful would incapacitate my movement, that in which will utlimately prevent my purpose. With this being said, being determined is a fuel that keeps me afloat!