From student at St Jude's to nation's pride

Emmanuel, a proud St Jude's alum and recent university graduate, is one of the most promising young
Tanzanian professionals. During his three years at university, he interned at some of the country’s
largest companies, became a local finalist in a prestigious continental research competition, and
graduated with the highest GPA in his class.

On his graduation day, he was personally recognised by the President of the United Republic of
Tanzania, Hon Samia Suluhu Hassan. Emmanuel looks back at his love and passion for a career in finance as a motivating factor.

"I have always dreamed of a career in finance," says Emmanuel. " It’s what I’ve loved since I was young,
and that passion drove me to work hard in my studies," he adds proudly.
Emmanuel's educational journey began at a government school where he was a regular top performer a
class. His hard work in class and impressive academic results made him a teacher's favourite and a peer mentor for his classmates. This continued into secondary school where Emmanuel became even more involved in tutoring his classmates.

"The number of teachers didn’t match the number of students at the school, so I became the go-to
person for helping others," he narrates. "I really enjoyed teaching others and it is one of my favourite
memories from school," he adds.

Emmanuel's hard work and dedication paid off. He aced his Form 4 national examinations, achieving
record-breaking results for his school, and helped many of his classmates improve their performance
and qualify for the next stage.

In Tanzania, there are two key stages to secondary schooling, the first four years of secondary school are called Ordinary Level (O Level) studies; from Form 1 to Form 4 and the final two years of secondary
school are called Advanced Level (A Level); Forms 5 and 6. At the end of each stage, students sit for a
series of standardised national examinations organised by the government. Only those who achieve a
determined pass mark progress to the next stage.

A few weeks after the national results were released, Emmanuel received an invitation to apply for a
scholarship to receive a 100% free, quality education at St Jude's. If successful, he will be part of a new
cohort of students joining St Jude's for A Level studies on a full scholarship. He jumped at the
opportunity.

"I was told that it was very competitive to get a spot at the school," says Emmanuel. "But I was
determined to give it my best, and I did just that," he adds proudly.

The application process was rigorous. Emmanuel completed assessment tests, underwent document
checks, and participated in a home visit by St Jude’s staff to verify his need for the scholarship. The
selection process, involving third-party local government offices and schools, ensures that only the most deserving students are awarded scholarships. With less than 10% of applicants being accepted,
Emmanuel’s determination paid off when he was awarded a scholarship to join St Jude's Secondary
School for his A Level studies.

"I was so happy. Everything—the environment, the resources, the teachers, and the extracurricular
programs—helped me become even better than I already was," he says.

While at St Jude's, Emmanuel paired his strong academic prowess with practical skills in extracurricular activities. He participated in sports and debate competitions, and sharpened his ICT skill-building programs. After completing his A Level studies, he promptly joined the Beyond St Jude's Scholarship Program (BSJSP) and spent a year of community service teaching fellow students.

In 2021, Emmanuel joined university with a BSJSP scholarship, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Finance
and Accounting. The free education he received at St Jude's and the continued support at university
provided extra motivation for him to work harder in his studies.

Now, with an impressive GPA of 4.8 (out of 5) and the honour of being the top graduate in his class,
Emmanuel is well on his way to fulfilling his dream of a career in finance. His journey—from helping
classmates as a young student to being recognised by the nation’s president as a university
graduate—highlights the profound impact of quality education and the power of perseverance.