From average to exceptional – Ronan bags eight distinctions
Ronan Burger has expressed excitement following his outstanding results.
The top matric achiever in St Dunstan’s College, Ronan Burger, has proved that it’s not how you start but how you end that counts.
From being an average learner to getting eight distinctions in matric, Ronan’s determination and hard work really paid off.
The 18-year-old obtained 100% for mathematics and was placed in the IEB’s outstanding achievement list after also making it into the top 5% in six subjects and achieving a rating level of seven in life orientation.
For accounting, mathematics, physical science and further studies mathematics (calculus and algebra) he was placed within the top 1% of all candidates in the IEB exams.
According to Ronan, who lives in Rynfield, throughout his schooling career he was an average learner but things changed in Grade 10 when he realised that academics was something he could excel in.
“I didn’t really know what career I wanted to follow. With the help of really good teachers, my marks started to change,” he said.
This year, he plans to study BSc Mathematics at the University of Cape Town. He said the support he got from his parents was unwavering.
“I don’t think I would have achieved as I did if it wasn’t for them. My parents gave up a lot of their spare time to allow me to stay at home and miss family gatherings in order to prepare for my exams. They sacrificed a lot for me.”
Ronan said on the night of the release of the results, his mother Mandi, who’s an educator at St Dunstan’s College, stayed up with him waiting for the results.
His message to the class of 2023: “Teachers are there to help you. They believe in you more than you believe in yourself. My mother has always given me the knowledge that teachers are people as well and they are compassionate.
“She would say that you are not just a mark to them even though they are pushing you to get higher marks. They are there to inspire you. Allow yourself to be inspired by your educators and you will go very far.”
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