Brilliant Kenyan student who scored a perfect 84 out of 84 points in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, has inspired many after sharing how he secured admission to Harvard University in the United States.
The student, identified as Johnson, revealed that his dream of studying abroad began when he was just 13 or 14 years old.
According to him, the ambition was sparked after former high school alumni who had studied at Harvard visited his school and shared their experiences, motivating him to aim for one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Johnson disclosed that he studied in public schools throughout his education in Kenya, making Harvard the first private institution he has ever attended.
Speaking in a video shared by @askharvardstudents, he explained that his successful application was made possible with the support of a college access programme in Kenya that guided him through the process.
“I was lucky to apply to only one school and get into it, so I did not have to write many essays,” he said, adding that the journey required determination and faith in himself.
The bright student encouraged aspiring applicants to remain authentic when writing their application essays. He stressed that one does not need to be flawless to gain admission into top global institutions.
“Just do the things that you like. You don’t have to be the perfect candidate. I have some flaws, including spelling errors in my application, but I still got in during early action,” Johnson shared. “Be yourself and work really hard because hard work pays.”
He acknowledged that while acceptance rates at institutions like Harvard are low, students should not be discouraged from applying.
Following the video, Kenyans flooded the comment section with congratulatory messages, praising Johnson for his academic excellence and pride in his Kenyan roots.
Some commenters highlighted his background at Kapsabet High School, describing him as one of the brightest minds the country has produced.
By Meta