The first black South African going in to space, Mandla Maseko, visited his former school to celebrate his birthday on Thursday.
The 26-year-old visited Ngaka Maseko Secondary School in Mabopane, North of Pretoria to also give a motivational speech.
Hundreds of students and the schools’ staff members were in high spirit as the astronaut shared his story. It was an extraordinary dream coming true for most of the students at the school.
Maseko, in his grey jump suit got the crowd cheering by his presence. He says he is very glad about his accomplishment.
“I can’t wait for the day to arrive. I think I have been waiting for too long. I wish the time could just run faster, so that I could already go to space. When you think of the many firsts, we have the first black President Nelson Mandela; we have the first black American President Obama. You know, the first black South African in space Mandla Maseko.”
He says they have launched an organisation that will inspire learners through motivational speaking.
“We started a campaign called the sky is not the limit campaign, whereby we go around schools. I give talks to young kids. I believe if you can plant a seed in a child’s mind, you can get anything that you want. It does not matter how big or small it is. It can happen.”
Most students at the school say they are motivated, and that they will pull up their socks to ensure that make it in their studies.
“You can always reach your dreams, do not let your friends pressure you, telling you that you are not going to do it, no matter where you from, what family background you from, you can do it if you have dreams, and dreams do come true. That is what I learnt from Mandla Maseko,” says one of the learners.
The school’s principal Jacob Abraham expressed words of thanks on behalf of the staff and students. Abraham says they will support Maseko through his exclusive trip.