Local students look beyond #FeesMustFall to their futures

Kevin Johnson was looking rather worn out when he chatted to the Courier at the end of November. And who could blame him? The Sarel Cilliers head-boy had just completed the end of year exams (with just one paper left) and he named Maths and Physics as being the toughest tests.
“Maths was especially gruelling. I really had to up my studying game, as the trials in the third term had not gone so well. My dad (Des) and I sat down and planned a new studying routine to prepare for the matric finals. There was no way I could afford to cram again.”
Kevin said that with better planning, these exams had ‘gone much better’. He is hoping for an A-symbol in English and a ‘good pass’ in the other subjects. A top rugby player, Kevin was ‘spotted’ by scouts from the Free State Cheetahs while playing for the SA Country Districts team during the Kearsney College week in Durban last year. Impressed with his talent, they offered him a contract with the Cheetahs Academy in Bloemfontein while studying a B. Ed. (his goal is to be a teacher and to be a professional rugby player!).
Kevin has applied for bursaries to help cover his costs for the four-year course and his hostel expenses.
“Hopefully, we will hear something positive with regards to the bursaries once the matric results are out,” he said. Commenting on the #FeesMustFall campaign, that widely disrupted universities in 2016, Kevin said he ‘is just hoping everything settles down in 2017 and that the university will not be disrupted’.
“I just want to go forward with my life. Lets’ hope the student bodies and the Government compromise so that everyone benefits.”
Sfundo Mtetwa
Fellow Sarel Cilliers matriculant, Sfundo Mtetwa, is looking forward to A-symbols in Zulu, Accounting and Life Sciences.
Like Kevin, he is also going to University of the Free State although he has also applied to study a B.Com Accounting at UKZN and at Wits. “But it looks as if I am also going to Bloem,” he said.
For Sfundo the Maths paper two was the hardest. What were his study techniques?
“I studied everyday and slept directly after coming home from school and then would wake up at 8pm when my brain was fresh to put in a full session of swatting. It worked for me.” Sfundo said the #FeesMustFall campaign had made many matriculants think twice before going to university and many are preferring to take a gap year to see ‘what happens’. “My prayer is that there will be peace on the campuses to allow students to study. Right now, we are getting nervous about our matric results!”.
The Courier wishes all Endumeni matriculants the best of luck with their results which will be out in early January.