An Award-Winning Profile on Thomas Steven Esteban

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NO! It’s Tom! When considering a person who has made a success or failure of their first year at University, one should look beyond the obvious and, of course, dig deep. Upon meeting Thomas Esteban, you are graced by a tentative and unfriendly presence. However, after “digging deeper” you come to know a friendly and loving person who actually does care about himself and others even though those who observe him from a distance would like to disagree.

His hazel eyes glistening with the ghost of his past he stares into the distance as if in deep thought, he has had an unusual upbringing which he says has moulded him into the achiever he is today. “I am a prime example of someone who can party a lot and still do very well,” he says as his facial expressions show that he is stating something very obvious. Tom is most definitely a key example of those “few” exceptional students who can get smashed every night and mess around, whilst still managing to pass most of his assignments and exams with first class passes. To some students who battle to pass, even with immense discipline and studying, Tom may seem like a super hero! “Call me “Supertom”,” he jokes whilst his explosive and sporadic laugh keeps one very alert.

Tom is definitely an example of a “rags-to-riches story”, from a mediocre performance at school, “I would do what was needed to pass and that’s all,” he says shamefully as his expression becomes blank, Tom has risen to resemble what could be an extremely talented journalist in the near future. “I will be successful and my name will be up there in lights,” he says confidently his pudgy chest puffing whilst the whites of his knuckles show as he clenches his fists. Tom isn’t your ordinary first year, his styled, straightened and highlighted hair and his dark-almost-Brazilian features gives one the impression that after enduring a lot in his younger years, which would usually discourage one, he still has the drive to care for himself and his self appearance. This drive which is so evident is the driving force behind his immense achievement academically at Rhodes University.

Wearing a Quicksilver jacket, black billabong shorts and white Lacoste shoes, from the “brand-name” attire screaming at you, one can gather the presence of money, and of course to live the party life style that Tom leads you do most certainly have to have money, a lot of it. His voice has an almost soothing quality to it, when he’s not shouting, that is, that gives one a sense of trust and confidence in him. Maybe it’s the confidence which he can draw from people which makes him the “First Year Supertom”. His attendance to lectures is “minimal” as he puts it which just goes to show how superhero-like he really is.

For one to have the pleasure of knowing Thomas, well, is almost an honour. His arrogance, selfishness and rudeness aside he is an extremely interesting person. His “rags-to-riches” story and his academic success makes for a very interesting topic on the diversity of students at a single university and how some can just get away with being so blasé and nonchalant towards their schoolwork and still pass well. “I’m not a hero, I’m just someone who aspires, and hopefully inspires too,” he says holding his model-like hands to his manly chin and looking up. He lives his life to his reworked version of Britney Spears’ “Piece of Me” which goes something like this: “I’m Mr. Tom-is-cool-lets-have-his-babies; You want a piece of me?”