Born: Mbabane, Swaziland
Lived in: Swaziland, South Africa and USA
Major: Economics
My name is Sihle Godden. I am a double major in Economics and French. I am half Swazi and half South African. I lived in Swaziland until the age of 4 and then moved to South Africa after 1994 where I’ve lived since.
I attended the United World College of Southern Africa (USCSA), also known as Waterford Kamhlaba, from 2001- 2007, so naturally, a large part of who I have become has been shaped by my experiences at there. At Waterford Kamhlaba I learned what it is to be a citizen of the world. One thing I realized when I left Waterford Kamhlaba is that we were so spoiled! Where else will one live, laugh and cry with so many intriguing, entertaining, warm, understanding, diverse, intelligent, independent, grounded and beautiful individuals? Being at a United World College was definitely a once in a life time opportunity and I think that the Davis UWC Scholars program allows each of us to take those experiences and that spark we all carry with us and share it with the rest of the world.
Life is a journey and Lewis & Clark (L&C) has been the next leg of my personal journey. Coming to Lewis & Clark was a challenging adjustment. One comes from a United World College and thinks she can take on the world, but one quickly learns that everything is a process. After two yeas at Lewis & Clark, I can say that I have not once regretted my decision to attend L&C. I have been given opportunities and I have grown in ways I know are unique to my Lewis & Clark experience.
Going to Lewis & Clark has also given me an opportunity to see the world, not only other states in the U.S but other parts of the world on the way to Portland or back home. With two more years to go at L&C, I know there are many more states and countries to see!
Academically, Lewis & Clark has been very fulfilling. It started off as a challenge–a challenge I did not expect having successfully completed the demanding International Baccalaureate program. But it only shows that we have so much untapped potential. One passion I discovered at Lewis & Clark was my love for French. In my first semester at L&C, I took French as a language requirement. Then, in the second semester I was searching for one more course when I learned that to take the next level of French I would not need to buy an additional book. Being the miser that I am, I took the next level of French and I haven’t looked back since! This I owe to the liberal arts education and to my French teacher for encouraging me to continue. In January, I will be going to Strasbourg on L&C’s overseas program to find a French husband, oh and of course to learn French.
I’m looking forward to the next two years at Lewis & Clark and meeting our new international students!