Rising above adversity: his inspiring academic journey
'FORTUNE favours the brave'. This saying should surely come to pass for a young man who learnt that pulling yourself up by the bootstraps is the first step in a long, arduous journey out of hardship.
In the small town of Hlabisa, a resilient Mandisa Nkwanyana (19) defied the odds to excel academically at Mkhaliphi Secondary School in Nhlwathi.
Mandisa's story is one of triumph over tragedy, having lost his mother during primary school. This heartbreaking loss initially led him to resent attending school, resulting in academic setbacks that lingered into early high school.
However, the tide turned when Mandisa entered Grade 9. Maturing at that pivotal age, he began contemplating life's priorities and the steps needed to forge a successful future.
"I changed my way of doing things, and all of a sudden I was coming first place in academics," shared Mandisa.
Despite facing financial constraints and relying on his grandmother's pension to support himself and his three siblings, Mandisa emerged as a shining academic star in the Class of 2023.
He achieved an impressive six level 7 passes and one level 6.
Expressing gratitude for his achievements, Mandisa acknowledged the role of faith in his journey.
However, his aspirations extend beyond the classroom. Yearning to study business management, he faces a financial hurdle, hoping for assistance from organisations like NSFAS or a generous benefactor.
"I was hoping NSFAS would assist, but there has been no word from them. I hoped someone would come forward and help me," pleaded Mandisa.
Dreaming big, Mandisa envisions a future where he can lead as a department head in Human Resources, or ascend to executive roles in major corporations or the public sector.
His ambitions, however, hinge on finding the financial support needed to pursue higher education.
As Mandisa strives to overcome these obstacles, he imparts valuable advice to this year's matric class.
Emphasising the importance of focus, time management, discipline and respect, he encourages his peers to remember that success is achievable when these principles are embraced.
For anyone able to assist Mandisa in his future career endeavours, he can be contacted on 065 6531729.
One of his teachers at Mkhaliphi - which obtained an overall 88.9% matric pass rate Siyabonga Motaung said they hope someone will come forward and help this child 'because life is really tough for this young man'.