Dinner with Nelson Mandela by Junathen

Dinner with Nelson Mandela by Junathen - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

If I could have dinner with any historical figure I would choose Nelson Mandela. I would choose him over everyone else because of the hardships he faced, and because having just passed away in 2013, he is still a very relevant and well-known figure in today's society. Nelson Mandela was a symbol of resilience and courage to people around the world because he was faced with much opposition and was arrested multiple times for his beliefs. But he never gave up hope, and continued to strive towards his goal of ending apartheid in South Africa.
During dinner, I would want to ask Mr. Mandela about what first inspired him to try to bring equality to South Africa. I would want to hear firsthand accounts of his struggles and his time in prison, and about how he rose through the ranks of the African National Congress. His incredible story of how he rose to become the president of South Africa and end years of apartheid in his home country would serve to be my inspiration in everything I do, reminding me that as long as I never quit and kept pushing towards my goals I could achieve absolutely anything. It shows that no matter where one starts in life, they will always have the ability to create national movements by persevering through everything life puts in their way.