received invaluable guidance from education advisor and immigration specialist, Claire Powell, at this time. In 2021, he was a fi nalist in the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program, and was also announced as one of the Top 100 most employable students in South Africa in the DHL GradStar Awards. Fast forward to 2023, and already Xolani has made an impression in the US job market. “I’ve received numerous offers from US government. These are opportunities to gain work experience. Then I will return home and implement what I’ve learned, and invest in my NPO, South African Renewers of Hope. I hope to continue collaborating with UJ, to expose more young people to opportunities, both back home and abroad,” he says.
In 2018, the year he graduated (with distinction), he was named by Golden Key International Honour Society as one of the top 15% of students at UJ, based on his outstanding academic performance, and also best tutor of first years at UJ. But again he had to halt his education plans, due to lack of finance and because his father was dying. “I went back home to look for employment and find ways to be productive. And my father was sick. Being the eldest son, I had to step up and provide for my family. It was very hard when he passed away,” he says. During this time, Xolani did an internship and got a job at Epiroc SA mining company, but he was intent on furthering his education, so in 2020 he started applying for scholarships and to study at universities abroad. He says he
to do whatever it took to continue with my studies; I slept on the floor in the lecture halls for three months with no food, blankets, clothing, or money to look after myself. I would go to Gift of Givers (GOG) where I received free breakfast and lunch.” He would wake up at 5 am every morning and wash in a basin inside the toilet facility, with cold water and tissue paper. Despite this, in 2015, Xolani was awarded UJ’s first-year top achiever award, and for his 2016 first semester, he got no less than 80% for all his modules, passing with an average of over 85%. In 2016-2017, he became a member of the UJenius Club, which recognises the top 1% of UJ’s students, appeared on the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Dean’s honours list, and was awarded the best student in the faculty.
1. Xolani Mzileni (4th from left) with other competition winners 2. Xolani Mzileni at the Golden Key International Honour Society 3. Xolani Mzileni (Blue jacket) USA Student Exchange at Appalachian State University in 2019
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