Nelson Mandela in Line With

Nelson Mandela In line with Claremont McKenna College's theme of "Leaders in the Making," I found it most appropriate to compare myself with the South African activist Nelson Mandela. The strongest parallelism between myself and Mandela is the fact that we both were incarcerated: I for six years, and Mandela for 18 years. Mandela was imprisoned as a political prisoner, having voiced his opposition against the rampant practice of apartheid in his country during the late-1950s to 1960s.

It is remarkable that as a member of the movement against apartheid (generally black civil rights) and commitment to nonviolence in his protests, he eventually resorted to violence by establishing a military that would help ensure the non-occurrence of apartheid and other injustices against blacks. Thus, being the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and its military wing, Mandela was charged for his active role against the practice of apartheid. While incarcerated, he made further and considerable progress in promoting his cause.

For me, it seemed that Mandela had more impact being compared to when he was still a free man. Inside the prison, Mandela managed to survive the harsh conditions of the prison, and also wrote (in secret) his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom." Outside, South African society is rapidly changing with the continued mobilization and protest against black oppression and mainly, apartheid. A empathize with Mandela's experiences as a prisoner because I had also been incarcerated for a considerably long time.

Having your freedom 'snatched' away from you unwillingly was perhaps the most threatening and inhumane act a man can do to another. However, I realized that one's freedom is not defined by one's mobility and ability to do some things. Like Mandela, prison time has given me the chance to reflect and focus more on my purpose in life. Instead of letting the prison 'imprison,' I let it "free" me by improving myself socially and intellectually.

While Mandela successfully finished his autobiography in prison, I successfully finished college with honors (Salutatorian) and with a GPA of 3.95. Being imprisoned allowed me to look at life in a different perspective. I have become more grateful of the life I was given, and I have shown and continuously show this gratefulness by improving myself as an individual (mentally and physically) and how I relate and constantly interact to other people. Mandela embodies this important realization that every reforming.