Doing matric while his twin brother had to undergo cancer treatment encouraged Michael Rock of King David High School, Linksfield, to soldier on even more.
Michael, who performed exceptionally well in his matric year, shared that when he first heard that his brother Daniel had cancer, he felt overwhelmed and shocked.
“I found it difficult to make sense of the situation my family and I found ourselves in. Half of my and my brother’s lives were spent in the hospital while my brother was undergoing treatment, instead of on the playground where eight-year-olds belong. He is a hero and I wish I could be half the person he is today,” said Michael.
He added that the fact that Daniel was consistently positive despite him having been through so much, motivated him (Michael) to keep going. “His resilience is admirable and I feel fortunate to have him as a role model. He is testimony to the fact that one can overcome any challenges that one might face.
“It is hard to find the words to encourage him as he has always been the one to encourage me.
“Daniel is always the pillar of strength and constantly saw the glass as half full. His positive outlook can be seen by everyone that knows and loves him.”
Michael is hoping to study engineering at the University of Witwatersrand this year.
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