Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Top matric pupil overcame grief to excel
SOUTH Africa’s top matric pupil is an all-rounder who pushed through tragedy to achieve her outstanding results.
Justine Crook-Mansour, from Rustenberg Girls’ High School in Rondebosch, achieved 96% and above for all seven of her matric subjects, the highest being 100% in history.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga named her the top achiever in Quintile 5 schools, and she is also South Africa’s top matric pupil in any category, according to sanews.gov.za.
This despite tragedy striking her family twice during her matric year.
“My father passed away in July just before my prelim exams, and my grandfather passed away towards the end of my final exams,” she said.
“It was an extremely difficult period for me. I tried to stay focused.”
With the support of her mother, Justine managed to put her head down and achieved the nation’s most outstanding results.
“I’m just a very determined person,” she said. “I knew matric was an important year. I couldn’t let that destroy me. My dad and grandfather would’ve been proud.”
Justine used exercise to cope with the overwhelming stress of academic demands, leadership responsibilities and grief. She continued playing first team hockey throughout her final year.
“A lot of people stopped sports in matric, but I see it as important to keep active,” she said. “During final exams, I’d walk up and down the steep road outside my house just to de-stress.”
Rustenburg principal Michael Gates said Justine pursued excellence. She represented the school in tennis and cross-country, and toured internationally with the first hockey team.
Justine has applied to study mechatronics engineering or astrophysics, and hopes to be accepted at UCT.