(11/12/15 2:26am)
[video credit="Marin Guta " align="right"][/video]
Alan Kim and Abby Henry performed their rendition of “Should’ve Been Us” by Tori Kelly at Mercer’s Got Talent 2015 in the hopes of winning the first place prize — a full semester of free housing in one of Mercer’s Lofts.
But the real show came after the duo earned the coveted first-place prize.
Kim and Henry chose to give their prize away to someone who could benefit more from the special living arrangement, someone who has already made quite an impact on campus — Jave Boyboy.
Hailing from Dublin, Georgia, Boyboy is a junior at Mercer majoring in marketing with a minor in media studies.
His arrival at the university came suddenly in the last week of summer before freshman year, Mercer agreed to let him be a commuter student. The decision was a surprise for Boyboy and his family due to their location near the apportioned distance zone for students who are allowed to commute to campus, instead of living on it.
During his first year, Boyboy commuted nearly two hours a day, five days a week. For his sophomore year, Boyboy crashed on his friends’ couches several days a week to minimize on his trips back home.
“I thought I was only going to do that for a semester . . . it’s been like three years,” he said.
Despite the challenges of commuting, Boyboy became quite involved in on-campus. He has been involved with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), The Cluster, QuadWorks and other organizations around campus.
Kim describes his friend as an involved person who really “pours into his relationships with people . . .going above and beyond the normal expectations of a friend.”
It was because of this admiration for Boyboy that Kim immediately thought of him when he learned of the first place prize of the talent competition.
“From that moment I was determined to win the prize, not only for our organization [RUF] but also for one of my best friends” Kim said.
Both Boyboy and Kim attribute their friendship to their involvement in RUF, an on-campus religious life organization. At RUF, Kim and Boyboy have had serious life discussions and forged friendship bonds during the RUF summer conference this May.
“During the short amount of time Jave and I have been able to get to know each other, we have grown incredibly close. I am more than proud to call Jave one of my best friends,” Kim said.
When Boyboy learned of Kim and Henry’s decision to give away their prize, he was surprised and speechless.
“I’ve never been so shocked in my life. I’m just really thankful,” he said.
As for how his life will change here at Mercer University, Boyboy said he isn't sure, but he is confident that it will be for the better.
“Commuting hasn't stopped me,” he said, but he reiterated how grateful and excited he is for the new opportunity.
With the exception of a few details, Boyboy is poised to move into his new home upon return from winter break.
“I’m just really thankful for their friendship. That’s really meant a lot to me,” he said.
(10/10/15 12:58am)
From the way she acts, you'd never guess Mpho Molapo was a foreigner from South Africa. Her confidence in everything from arguing Homer in class to ordering her drink in the long Einsteins line doesn't seem indicative of someone who is still learning American culture.
But perhaps that’s the way she wants it.
“[Mercer University] was away from home. Georgia was as close and as far as I could get,” Molapo said.
Hailing from Johannesburg, Molapo and her family came to this country several years ago for the promise of a better education.
[pullquote speaker="Mpho Molapo" photo="" align="right" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]“Americans are overly independent… It’s very individual and success driven.[/pullquote]
“Getting an MBA from the Unites States, no matter where it is, means a whole lot more than getting an MBA from South Africa” Molapo explained.
Her parents now reside back in South Africa, awaiting her arrival after graduation, while her brothers live in south Florida.
“But I’m here” the 18-year-old said with a knowing smile, still adjusting to her new home just like any other freshman.
When asked about her decision to come to Mercer, Molapo was happy to divulge that her high school counselor urged her to pursue the opportunity. Now, she is here studying international business.
“I switched over from liberal arts…mostly because it would make my parents happy.” She laughed while taking a bite of her french toast bagel. Mpho explained that in South Africa, as well as many other places around the world, family comes first. It is expected to put the needs of the family above the needs of the individual, something she feels Americans have a hard time accepting.
"For us, everything is so family based…when I succeed, the family succeeds with me,” she said.
For this reason, Molapo said she is happy to study what her parents feel is best in preparation for her return home. When asked about the biggest difference between her culture and ours, her sentiments echoed those of familial success.
While this difference is difficult to accommodate, Molapo made it clear that she respects both cultures in their clashing nature and was eager to point out some aspects she loves about the American way of life.
“Everything is so convenient. You can order everything online. E-books are just life giving,” she said with amusing admiration. “We still struggle with the internet [in South Africa] even though we are very modern.”
As for the hardest adjustment to life at Mercer University, Molapo had a complaint similar to all college students across the country—Money. The lack of it was difficult for her, as well as many students, to adapt to after she left home.
Surprisingly, the language barrier, which is one of the most common obstacle international students, face didn't seem to phase Molapo at all. She is fluent in four languages, including English, and can read or speak several more.
When it comes to the future, Molapo says she’d love to study abroad and plans to work for a South Korean company like LG Electronics Inc., a mobile communications and electronics company. However, she is excited for her home here at Mercer and grateful for the opportunities, and struggles, that come with living in America.
“America is the land of opportunity…and I knew this wasn't going to be the land of milk and honey walking in here,” Molapo said.