STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: FRANK MABANO
MURAHO (HELLO) MY NAME IS: FRANK MABANO
My name is Frank Mabona, I am twenty years old am a third year student in the King Menelik II Family at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. Though I do not know my exact birthday, my grandmother says I was born around the 12th of May 1994. I am from the Kamoyi District, which is where I live with my grandmother when I am not in the Village. Now that I am older, I spend a lot of time in Kigali City when I am on break, but I always make sure to go home to spend time with my grandmothers as well. The combination I study at the Liquidnet Family High School is called H.E.G, which focuses on History, Economics, and Geography. I really enjoy learning about the world.
Outside of my studies, I am captain of the ASYV football (soccer) team. Before coming to ASYV, I played football at home with my friends, but never on a real team. I am really looking forward to watching the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The team that I am supporting is Germany - I believe that they have some of the best players in the world and I really enjoy watching them play. My second choice team is Ghana. In my opinion, they have the best team in sub-Saharan Africa and I want to support my fellow Africans.
Other than football, my other passions are photography and video editing. When I was in my first year at ASYV, I was chosen to be in the TV Club, just by chance. I became so involved that by my second year I became the President of that Club. I am able to practice my video editing skills by working on a student-run production called “Mr. Opinion,” which is a weekly video program that shows the latest fashion trends in the Village, sports competitions, and any other special events that are documented throughout the week. I edit all of the video submissions and weave them together to produce a polished video compilation. My favorite moment in video editing is when I have been working on something for many hours, but I am not sure if it is good or not. When I sit back and replay the video, more often than not, I am happy with what I see and I think, “I did that.”
When I graduate from ASYV, I hope to continue my studies at a University in Rwanda. It is my dream to study video editing and photography in University as a double major. After University I want to work as a professional video editor in my own company. I want to be my own boss. When I look back on how I was when I first came to ASYV, I cannot even recognize myself. I was not a strong person and I did not take advantage of many of the opportunities that ASYV presented to me.Today I am strong and I jump at the chance to learn new things, especially in the media lab.
If I could give some advice to the first year students at the Village, it would be to work hard in everything that they are doing. I would tell the boys and girls to focus on their studies and avoid distractions. If they can find someone who can help them in their work, such as a mama, cousin, big brother, educator, etc., use them. You never know what you can learn from someone. My only other advice is, “practice makes perfect” - that is how I became a good video editor, a good student, and a good football player. I work hard at everything that I do. That is how I succeed now, and how I will succeed in my future!