A-student just wanted to honour his brave mother
Maraba’s sickly mom led the fight to 7 distinctions
Hard work and dedication paid off for Randfontein High School Grade 12 pupil Lurhan Maraba who aced his matric exams with seven distinctions.
The distinctions, however, did not come as a surprise for Maraba, 18, who has been scoring As for all his subjects since Grade 8.
He was also the chairman of the Representative Council of Learners at school and has achieved five laureate blazers because of his academic excellence.
Speaking to Sowetan from his home in Protea Glen, Soweto, where his trophies adorn the family’s sitting room, the unassuming teen said he was elated.
“I have always wanted to stand out throughout my academic schooling. I remember when I was turned down at Randfontein High School because I applied late and that broke my heart,” Maraba said.
“My mother who has a lifethreatening disease walked all the way to the school [23km away] to beg the headmaster to take me. She managed to get me a place and that gave me the drive to work even harder.”
Maraba, who wants to study medicine, said he would like to change his family’s situation.
“I would like to give them a better life because my mom is no longer working due to her illness and my father is an admin clerk at Leratong Hospital,” he said.
Maraba said 2017 was challenging and exciting for him but he never lost focus of being the best in his studies.
“It helped that I took my homework seriously. During breaks I would study or work on my homework because you have to work hard to obtain good results. I also sacrificed spending quality time with my family so as to study.”
Maraba said he would spend his free time watching his favourite series or hanging out at the mall with his friends until universities reopen.