We defied the odds and rose to the challenge
I ATTENDED Westville Girls’ High School and live by the famous Muhammad Ali motto: impossible is nothing. I am proud to have obtained a bachelor’s pass with five distinctions.
I just missed a 6th distinction by 1%, having obtained 79%. This still feels surreal.
Despite the challenges of Covid-19 and load shedding faced by the Class of 2021 and an interrupted Grade 11, I feel proud to say we did it.
It definitely was a roller-coaster journey for the Class of 2021 but we defied the odds and rose to the challenge.
I am proud of my accomplishments, not only in Grade 12 but over the 12 years of my schooling career – 15 years if you count pre-primary years.
All the sacrifices, the long hours, early mornings and late nights have definitely paid off.
It was not an easy task but it has yielded satisfying results. I faced many challenges in high school. However, I did not let those challenges consume me. I channelled my energy by turning those situations into positive outcomes and showing up as the best version of myself. Always believe in yourself and your capabilities.
To the matric pupils of 2022, I would love to share a few tips with you:
Never doubt yourself or lose faith in yourself. You are capable of so much more than you think. It’s not easy but if you manage to stay focused from day one, it will make your life much easier.
Start revising in advance even if you just read your work. The more you go over it, the easier it is for you to remember it while studying for trials and finals.
Have an early start to your day when studying as you can get more done.
Use as many past year papers as you can. It really makes a difference and it played a major part in all my distinctions. Consistency is key.
Most important, take care of yourself and your health and delete social media such as TikTok and Instagram when you are studying because we all know how addictive it is.