Matriculant dedicates six distinctions to her late mother
Membathisi dedicates her shining accolades to the support of her father and the memory of her mother
Just shy of her 13th birthday Membathisi Mtsi, former head girl of Pinnacle College Rynfield, had to deal with the unthinkable – saying goodbye to her mother following a short illness.
On January 18, the matriculant was celebrated by fellow learners and faculty for attaining six distinctions in the 2022 Independent Examinations Board’s (IEB) matric finals.
She attained distinctions in English, Afrikaans, accounting, maths, life sciences and life orientation.
According to principal Clint Gaffney, Membathisi not only surpassed the school’s expectations academically, but her journey and attitude towards life is inspirational.
“As the oldest sibling of five children, Membathisi stepped into the role of mother at a very young age, helping her father to take care of her younger siblings while still dealing with the grief of her mother’s untimely death,” said Gaffney.
“Despite the mountain of responsibilities she assumed, she not only remained dedicated to her studies but her sparkling personality is contagious.”
Speaking to the Benoni City Times at the school on the morning the results were released, Membathisi breathes in the aroma of the fresh flowers handed to her by Gaffney.
“My mother has always been my inspiration and when things got tough adapting to living a life without her, my dad would cheer the loudest for us to succeed,” she said.
“As I look at my results, which includes 92% for maths, I am grateful for the person that I have become.
“I look forward to the world of possibilities still to come.”
Hoping to pursue studies in the field of finance or data science, Membathisi is waiting with bated breath for acceptance correspondence from the various USA-based universities that she has applied to.
“The thought of possibly leaving my dad and siblings is incredibly daunting but my dad is the one who has encouraged me to pursue tertiary education abroad,” she said.
“According to him, I sacrificed a lot to be a good sister and strong role model and it is now time to follow my dreams.”
To the matrics of 2023, Membathisi cautions learners to adequately prepare for a rollercoaster of a year.
“Throughout this year and preparations for the final exams, you will experience many ups and downs.
“Stay focussed, maintain balance and make informed decisions.
“The choices you make today will have an impact on the rest of your life.”
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