A purple patch for pupils
I love our suburbs in Jo'burg in summer – our gardens are lush, the grass is green and our residents are friendly.
It’s as if with the first rains we get a new lease on life, new hope and a spring in our step – no pun intended.
But as much as I love summer, watching the Jacaranda trees coming into blossom has always weighed heavily on my heart because I associate it with exams. When I was young, my dad always used to show me the purple-lined streets and he would say “if you have not started studying, its too late”.
By the time my matric exams came around, I noticed Jo’burg turning purple and recalling my father’s words I knew I was skating on thin ice as I had not started studying. As it turned out I passed.
Today, as I watch the patchwork of purple bursting out in our suburbs, my thoughts turn to the matrics of 2014. I hope their studies are going well, and for those of you who have not started studying I urge you to do so.
Every year the media, parents, teachers and government debate whether matric standards have dropped, but I for one have faith in our education system and our pupils.
Matrics of 2014, you are intelligent and with a little bit of effort in your studies, you will surpass all expectations of yourselves and your parents.
