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When 19-year-old Ronaldo Lee learned earlier this year that he had been accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, he had no idea of the surprise he would receive.
He is one of eight Caribbean students, including two fellow Jamaicans, who have successfully applied to the prestigious institution of higher learning.
Ronaldo, who has been awarded a full scholarship, will begin studying electrical engineering in August, with a focus on sustainable development and renewable energy.
This Campion College alumnus, who came from humble beginnings in St Catherine’s Newland, has a truly inspiring story of how he has evolved.
Ronaldo told JIS News that he remembered reading the email communique from MIT that day.
“(It was) Monday, March 20, 2024, (and) I was like ‘Wait, I got into MIT?’ This is crazy… I was so happy that I got in. But I was even happier when I realized my mom didn’t have to pay (any tuition),” he shared.
Ronaldo said the truth of the notice was surprising because he was in a poor financial situation and other well-known colleges and universities he had applied to had rejected him.
“I was rejected by 17 other Ivy League schools… One of them said I would be considered a financial burden, so, I wasn’t accepted. But now my mom doesn’t have to worry about my finances anymore. It’s awesome to know that I was accepted (and that MIT offered me a scholarship),” the youngster added.
Admission to MIT is a high-stakes opportunity. Applicants must score at least 1,580 out of 1,600 on the SAT, a widely used standardized test for college admissions in the United States, submit five essays and provide a summary or report of their overall academic performance, including extracurricular activities.
On average, MIT accepts only 2% of its students as international students. With approximately 6,000 international applications each year, the admissions prospects for applicants from the Caribbean may be more competitive.
Ronaldo said he had a 1,460 on the SAT and was a little skeptical about whether he would be admitted.
But as fate would have it, it wasn’t just about his marks, but about his entire time at Campion, highlighted by his involvement in the Student Innovation Program in Science and Engineering (SPISE).
“I attended SPISE, which is actually a summer camp put on by the Caribbean Science Foundation. They selected 19 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students from across the Caribbean and sent us to Barbados, (where) we took university courses in physics, calculus, electronics, and were mentored by professors from MIT,” Ronaldo shared.
He also served as Vice President of the Campion Software Engineering Club and Secretary of the Engineering Club.
“I studied robotics, I played rugby, I was involved in a lot. I also submitted a research proposal for funding to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which is the world’s largest organization of technical professionals dedicated to advancing technology,” the youngster further said.
The proposal, which Ronaldo worked on in collaboration with some of his friends, focuses on developing a lab-scale microgrid to be integrated into a rural community in Jamaica to determine the feasibility of switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy. He hopes the proposal will be accepted.
Ronaldo also raised approximately $230,000.00 to renovate the athletic center at his alma mater.
He said the funds will be used to purchase supplies to paint and renovate the area, solidifying the dream of leaving a mark on the institution.
He added: “I’ve always wanted to do something to give back and leave a mark on my school.”
Ronaldo is the eldest of two children of his mother, Sophia Roberts, who works in a supermarket in St Catherines.
He said she has always been his biggest motivation, noting that she never gave up even when things were tough financially.
“When I was preparing for the GSATs at Naggo Head Primary, we lived in a single room. But my mother never made us feel poor. Looking back now, I didn’t realise how bad it was when we didn’t have enough food, didn’t have enough money for lunch, had only three sets of school uniforms, were late in getting our textbooks or couldn’t go on school trips,” Ronaldo shared.
He noted that his mother was always good at “hiding” their struggles, thinking that maybe that was her “super power.”
“She always helps me, so I try to make her happy. That’s why I stay up late at night, when I’m tired and I have exams and I just need to get 70 points. But my mom doesn’t go to bed early, she’s always the first one to get up. So she’s my biggest motivation,” the young man pointed out.
Ms. Roberts expressed great joy at her son’s achievement, noting that it was not easy for her son to achieve what he has today.
“Even though I was a single mum, Ronaldo’s dad did his bit. His dad… did help… he did do his bit but it wasn’t easy. When (Ronaldo) was in Grade 3, his teacher told me at a PTA meeting ‘save money for Ronaldo because he’s definitely going to Campion College’. I promised I would save. It’s not how much money you make, it’s how much you save; so I threw my ‘mate’ out,” Ms Roberts recalled fondly.
She said despite the difficulties, she knew it was worth investing in her children.
“There were times…I would lock myself in my room and cry. But I tried not to let them see that side of me. I made them feel like everything was okay. Whenever they wanted something, I would try to give it to them instead of telling them I didn’t have it,” she shared with JIS News.
With a mixture of humility and pride, Ms Roberts admitted she had no idea what an impact she had had on Ronaldo.
“I don’t know that I’m his biggest motivation; I feel good. My advice to parents is to try to understand (your child’s) situation … love them and be there for them. Don’t just focus on work and ignore what they’re going through,” she said.
Ms Roberts also expressed her gratitude to Alando Terrelonge, Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central, for supporting her son’s educational progress since he attended Naghead Primary School.
“He saw Ronaldo as a star. He never said no when we asked him for help. (Ronaldo) will undoubtedly continue to be a star,” said the doting mother.
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