He was the first person to attend school in his family. After he completed school he went to study law at the Fort Hare University College. He didn't finish his studies at this university because of his belief in equality for blacks and whites. He attended in a student strike and because of this he was expelled from the university in 1940. Mandela was still very determined to fight for his beliefs. .
On the first day of school, at Methodist Mission School, he was re-named by his teacher to Nelson. His previous name was Rolihlahla, which means troublemaker. Mandela is known by his clan name "Madiba" or "tata", which means father. .
By 1942, Mandela became increasingly involved in political causes and the African National Congress (ANC), which was formed in an endeavor to create an equal, multi-racial South Africa. Two years after becoming an activist for the ANC he helped form the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) that was created to increase youth activism and help end racial segregation. Mandela organised protests and strikes to battle for voting rights and equality for black South Africans. Despite his hard efforts, apartheid was introduced from the government in 1948. This took away the black inhabitants rights from South Africa and enforced racial segregation. In 1952, Mandela became the national 'volunteer-in-chief' of the Defiance Campaign. He travelled around South Africa enlisting volunteers to violate the laws of apartheid. This campaign officially opened on June 26th 1952 and their first act of defiance was breaking curfew regulations. .
Mandela then became the national president of the ANC. He had banning orders that restricted him from participating in gatherings. It was determination, stubbornness, dedication and perseverance that drove him to work with small groups of members. This doing was against the law for black South Africans. Renewed bans in 1953 required Nelson Mandela to officially resign from the ANC and until 1956 he continued practicing his leadership secretly.