Tshegofatso wants to change the world

At the youthful age of 13, Tshegofatso Masokameng is not only a top academic achiever but she also knows exactly what she wants for her future.
Tshegofatso is a Grade 7 learner at Pietersburg Comprehensive Primary School and during the school’s recent first quarter excellence awards she was acknowledged as the best performing Senior Phase learner. She attained 98% in Afrikaans, 80% in English, 77% in Life Orientation, 86% in Technology, 76% in Economic Management Sciences, 90% in Creative Arts, 94% in Mathematics, 91% in Social Sciences and 90% in Natural Sciences.
Her biggest dream is to pursue a career as an ophthalmologist. “This profession is very close to my heart. I want to help everyone who is struggling with an eye disease because it is a silent killer,” she says. She is motivated by the loss of a cousin in 2017 due to an incurable eye disease.
“I was heartbroken when my cousin died and we could not do anything as a family. We tried all avenues and we tried the best practitioners from all walks of life but we could not help her. I want to take this career path in her memory and also try to find the best practises and cures for those with reoccurring eye diseases,” she explained.
Tshegofatso is fully aware of the necessity of a good foundation and education if she is to fulfil her dream but financial constraints may stand in her way. She hopes to be accepted at Mitchell House next year and has applied for a bursary seeing that her parents would not be able to afford the fees. She is however adamant that she will pass the aptitude test on 11 May with flying colours and has been preparing herself well.
“Mitchell House has all the resources a learner may need. It is the one school that will set me on the path of achieving my goals.”
She says she would love to drive and coordinate a system of energy-producing windmills or wind turbines set up on land and supplying energy to villages in the province. It is an idea she has been toying with since Grade 5. “I want to change the world and ensure that everyone lives comfortably. I have travelled and seen how people in the villages and the rural areas are inconvenienced by power shortages and cuts. People are still using candles as a source of energy and that is sad. I want to see everyone having electricity and living comfortably.”
Apart from academic accolades she also has a number of other achievements under her belt such as being a member of the school’s drum majorettes squad that won a gold medal at the provincial drum majorettes championships. “That was one of my biggest achievements which I will forever cherish. I want to achieve more, I want to make an impact in this life and contribute to the economy of this country,” Tshegofatso said.
She says she owes all her success to her mother, Rose who is a senior state accountant at the Department of Health. “She is my pillar. She is hardworking and an academic of note. She is the one who always pushes me to study and focus on my books. Sometimes she does not remind me to do my homework and assignments because she knows I don’t need to be reminded of my school work, it is a habit,” Tshegofatso stresses.
In her spare time she assists learners who are struggling with Mathematics and science subjects at her school. “I am head girl and helping other learners is one of my primary duties. I find joy and fulfilment in helping those who cannot help themselves,” Tshegofatso concluded.

Story & photo: Herbert Rachuene
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