Star pupil’s hard work pays off
Thembisile said her success was not by favour but by merit as she had dedicated the whole year to her studies.
KANYAMAZANE – A 17-year-old girl from Sitintile Secondary School achieved top marks in the 2013 matric exams, followed by two boys who also performed exceptionally well.
The shy and determined doctor-to-be Thembisile Mashabane obtained distinctions in all her subjects. She got 82 per cent in siSwati home language, 83 per cent in English first additional language, 85 per cent in mathematics, 86 per cent in life orientation, 85 per cent in geography,
87 per cent in life science and 85 per cent in physical science.
Thembisile said her success was not by favour but by merit as she had dedicated the whole year to her studies.
“I dedicated five hours of every day to my studies since January. I also joined study groups and asked teachers when I did not understand for clarity. I actually tried my best in preparing for the exams,” she said.
Thembisile said she also had to sacrifice the things she loves so that she could focus on her studies because she was determined to follow her dream of studying medicine.
“I didn’t watch television for the whole year; I ignored all social networks during my examination and didn’t use my cellphone. My mother also helped me a lot as she wanted me to focus on my studies,” she said.
She urged other matriculates to follow in her steps and prepare for their exams from the beginning of the year. She has been admitted at Wits University to pursue a career in medicine and hopes her bursary application to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will be successful.
Her runner-up is Njabulo Nkosi who obtained a 75 per cent in siSwati home language, 81 per cent in English first additional language, 82 per cent in mathematics, 85 per cent in life orientation, 81 per cent in accounting, 77 per cent in business studies and 63 per cent in economics.
The third best learner was Mpendulo Lubisi, who obtained 74 per cent in sSwati, 75 per cent in English, 87 per cent in mathematics, 90 per cent in life orientation, 78 per cent in geography, 74 per cent in life science and 84 per cent in physical science.
Another candidate who performed exceptionally well Nokwanda Manzini, who obtained three distinction. She told this newspaper that she studied very hard for the exams.
“Even if we played in class I always read a lot upon reaching home, mostly because I wanted to make my parents proud. I am the first one to obtain such great marks in my family,” she said. Manzini is determined to study law at the Wits University.
Some of the learners who did not perform well were shy to talk to the media but one of them, Nathaniel Mhlanga, proudly said he was determined to go back to school, be serious about his schoolwork and leave friends alone so that he could obtain better marks in the future.
The principal, Mr Harold Gondwe, congratulated the learners and teachers for their hard work which saw the school register a 4,7 per cent increase from the previous year’s 81 per cent pass rate.
