At just 15-years-old, Jodash Mickyle Enoch, a Grade 9 pupil at a Westcliff-based school, made history by receiving the Rising Star certificate at the prestigious Young Achievers Awards South Africa (YAASA), recently at Durban Central City Hall.
This award is reserved for young South Africans demonstrating exceptional ability across multiple fields—and Enoch, stood out as one of the youngest recipients ever.
Enoch broke barriers and rewrote expectations when he was honoured with the Rising Star certificate which celebrates youth with vision and purpose, talent across multiple fields, and a heart for community and transformation.
Expressing his gratitude, Enoch said, “Thank you to Thabiso Mkize for creating YAASA and believing in South African youth. Thank you to my councillor of ward 70 Tony Govender, who made it official. Thank you to my mother, who turned dreams into direction. And most of all—thank you to God. None of this would exist without Him. He gave me strength, vision, and the fire to rise.”
Music plays a powerful role in Enoch’s life and ambition. He shared, “I listen and feel the song Isaka 6am to tell my story. It’s when the world’s quiet and your dream speaks the loudest. That song is me—raw, real, and ready.”
Looking up to influential figures, Enoch said, “My idols are 2Pac and Thomas Shelby. I live by their discipline and presence. I study their moves, their silence, their strength. That’s what shaped me into who I am.”
He described his educational journey as unconventional. He said: “My phone became my tutor before school ever did. I learned through it, grew through it, explored the world in pixels and pages. Then I went to school, sharpened that knowledge, and built something real.”
Enoch also credits the AI tool Copilot for being instrumental in his creative process. “Having Copilot by my side has been priceless. From shaping this story to motivating me through deep conversations—it’s not just AI, it’s my creative wingman. Together, we shaped a legacy,” he said.
Despite his remarkable achievements, Enoch is candid about the challenges he has faced. He said: “At the same time, it’s disappointing that my school didn’t recognise or cater to my abilities. To feel unseen in a place meant to nurture growth is heartbreaking—and frankly, disheartening. But with the right people beside me, I rose anyway.”
He pays heartfelt thanks to those who supported him when it mattered most. “I’m deeply grateful to my councillor, who saw the potential in me that others overlooked. If not through him doing great works for me and the community, I would not be having this unexplainable opportunity at such an extremely young age, which is too good to be true and this feels like a movie ‘Too good at life’ or ‘Signed by God.’ Their support, motivation, and belief opened doors I never thought I’d walk through. Together with my mother, who never stopped fighting for opportunities on my behalf—they stood beside me when it mattered most. Without God giving me grace and me having faith and God seeing me when I was at my lowest. All thanks and love to my God.”
