But, having said that, there are many people in this world who don’t have the greatest education and have still managed to make a success of their life – sometimes even better than those who have top-notch degrees to their names.
What’s the ‘secret’ of their success without an education?
To be honest, I don’t think there’s any big secret. It’s a mixture of luck or destiny, knowing the right people in the ‘right’ place and at the right time, and lots of hard work and steely determination. The hunger for a better life is a very, very good motivator.
 |
| Trevor Noah was born on 20 February 1984 in Johannesburg. His mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, is black and of Xhosa ethnicity,and his father, Robert, is white and of Swiss German ethnicity. His mother was later fined and imprisoned by the South African government for having a relationship with his father. When Trevor was 10 or 11 years old, his mother (although not the rest of the family) chose to convert to Judaism. Noah spent his early youth in the private school of Maryvale College, a Catholic school in Johannesburg. During his childhood, he attended Roman Catholic church every Sunday. His parents' relationship was illegal at the time of his birth under apartheid (interracial sexual relations and marriages were legalized under the amended Immorality Act of 1985, a year after Noah was born). His mother was jailed and fined by the South African white minority government, and his father later moved back to Switzerland. Noah himself was raised by his mother and maternal grandmother, Nomalizo Frances Noah. |
 |
| Cassper Nyovest… dropped out of high school in 2006 at the age of 16. |
 |
| Minnie Dlamini… …left her studies at UCT to pursue a TV career |
 |
| Bonang Matheba After failing a few modules more than once, Bonang Matheba left the University of Johannesburg – without the marketing degree she’d signed up for. Not that she’s needed that or any other degree… Bonang has made an amazing success of her life and is a role model for thousands of young South African girls – more power to her! |
 |
| Charlize Theron… …didn’t finish high school. |
