DURBAN - ALTHOUGH this time is about celebrating the National Senior Certificate matric class of 2021, it is also good to check in on former pupils who are now in university.
There were words of inspiration and encouragement from the matric class of 2020 top achievers.
Nomvelo Nkomo, 19, was one of seven matriculants from Bizimali High School in Nkandla, northern KwaZulu-Natal who obtained 8 distinctions.
Nkomo is completing her second year in Medicine at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria.
Nkomo’s message to the class of 2021, who be receiving their results on Friday, were: “No matter what your results are, you have a bright future ahead of you with many options available. Do not give up on your dreams. I wish you the best of luck also. May all your hard work pay off.”
Nkomo also wished the class of 2022 luck as they begin their final academic year in high school.
Nkomo advised them to begin working hard now, while the workload was still not heavy. She emphasised that the year was too short to waste time and advised matric pupils to believe in themselves.
“The year is too short, you really do not have any time to waste. Choose your circle wisely, put you and your dreams first, compromise nice times and prioritise your goals.
“Treat all tests and exams of the year as your final exams. Work hard now so you won’t be stressed too much during your final exams.”
She said great things come to those who sweat and “what you sow during the year is what you will reap”.
Her favourite quote in high school was: “There are no limits to what one can achieve except the limits placed on one’s own thinking”.
Nkomo said if other matriculants before them did it and “we also did it, then you all can do it too”.
“Just work for it, nothing comes easy. Most importantly, walk with God.”
Another Bizimali alumnus, Sandiso Mzolo, 20, is doing his second year of medicine with Nkomo.
He said being in Pretoria was a different environment.
He said he was used to herding cattle and now he was in a totally different world. However, his plan to specialise in gynaecology was on course.
Asked about being the first class of Covid-19, Mzolo said it was more than that.
“Under normal circumstances, the transition from high school to university was huge, then add Covid-19, it was very hard,” Mzolo said.
Regarding the Gauteng High Court ruling that the Department of Basic Education must publish the 2021 matric results on media platforms, Mzolo’s class and the rest of the 2021 matric year would have been the last to have results ones published in the newspapers if the ruling had not been made.
Mzolo said from previous years, having names published in the newspaper was motivating.
“I was comfortable with names in the paper. I didn’t just want my name in the paper, but wanted something to show, because I worked hard since the start of the year and I knew I would do as well as I did,” Mzolo said.
Mzolo achieved distinctions in six subjects out of eight.
For the matric class of 2021, three pupils from Bizimali High School received eight distinctions while one received seven distinctions, proving once again that a poor school can produce rich results.
Daily News