Mbali Shabalala (18) and Philile Baleni (19) from Lofente Girls High in Orlando East both obtained two distinctions and they attribute this to the extra classes that they organised themselves.
“We use to have daily extra classes and we would assist each other. Our teachers did all they could do to prepare us but we knew we had to go the extra mile.
We asked our teachers for a classroom that we can use and they entrusted us with the key so that we can use the classroom when we needed to,” said Shabalala.
Baleni said she would like to encourage the matriculants of 2014 to follow in their footsteps.
“Make time every day to study or form study groups and study with your fellow pupils,” she said.
The two girls also advised the 2014 matriculants to not only depend on the study material they get at school but to also seek extra material.
“I would also encourage them to stay calm and not to panic and also not to put too much pressure on themselves. I believe that I would have done much better in my final exams if I just didn’t put too much pressure on myself,” said Shabalala.