The new executive SRC president of Boland College is a clear example of how pushing through hardship can lead to success, however severe the obstacles one encounters.
Elvis Michell, the newly elected SRC president, hails from a small town in the Northern Cape called Warrington, where he completed his National Senior Certificate in 2015. Since primary school he needed glasses due to bad eyesight. In 2001, he lost sight completely in his right eye. Between 2011 and 2014, complications developed and an operation was needed — but after the operation in 2014, his eyesight was never the same.
After hearing about Kaleidoscope SA (as Innovation for the Blind was previously known) in Worcester, he tried to enrol but financial constraints made this impossible at the time. Fast forward a few years: he was declared completely blind. Tragedy struck again as he lost both his mother and his employment in the same year. Depression became part of his daily struggle.
Michell took charge of his life. The first step was to seek help for his depression, then to start focussing on his goals. He enrolled at Optima College in Pretoria and studied Contact Centre Support, Braille Reading and Computer Training. Covid-19 then derailed his next plans, and after hours of research he came across the Hein Wagner Academy — a satellite campus of Boland College.
In 2020, he contacted HWA and received all the information he needed about Marketing Management, the programme he was interested in. With new technology, visually impaired students are well equipped to make a success of their studies — using laptops with screen readers that navigate the device and read content aloud, combined with a keyboard rather than a mouse.
“I want to make a difference. Student council truly allows one to foster skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork, organisation and public speaking — all of which one needs in college, and which can prepare you for the day when you decide to join politics. Not only do these skills help in class, they’re also super valuable when it comes to job applications.”
Michell is open-minded and describes himself as a good listener. As a leader, he leads from the front — but also wants to be at the back of the line, to push to the front those who need that extra support.
“Being blind is not an obstacle. You can use this as the driving force to become successful. This challenge will build your character and you will emerge stronger than before.”