By Akani Nkuna
One of Gauteng’s top matric achievers, Kamogelo Tshabalala from Acudeo College Kirkney, described the matriculation journey as “easy” thanks to good preparation and a well-coordinated support structure, including peer groups and assistance from teachers.
“The journey was easy if I am being honest. It was easy because of the preparations that was done the previous year, particularly after the grade 11 examination preparation for the next year. It made the journey quite easy with the assistance of the educators and support of my classmates as well,” Tshabalala told Inside Education.
Tshabalala has already set his sights on studying Actuarial Science at the University of Cape Town, saying it is a path where his passion for mathematics and science can be fully harnessed.
Confident and resolute about his chosen career path, Tshabalala said he is ready to take on the subject to fulfil a childhood dream born from his love of science, and to challenge perceptions that the course is too difficult.
“Actuarial Science is considered a challenging course, I am ready for the challenge and it’s even maths based,” he said.
He also expressed a desire to promote a culture of literacy, make studying fashionable, and give back to the community he comes from, ensuring that his pursuit of Actuarial Science benefits not only him but society.
Tshabalala emphasised the need to empower young people beyond education and into other fields, including sports, arts and culture, to help uncover raw talent and ensure every pupil’s prospects for success are explored.
“The infinite opportunities I will earn from this career path will in turn enable me to establish other ventures that I would like to go into which empower the youth of South Africa the same way I was empowered and given an opportunity to thrive,” Tshabalala said.
He urged pupils moving into Grade 12 to waste no time getting started with their studies, encouraging them not to wait for schools to reopen before beginning.
“You need to really try your best, understanding that it is not going to be easy at all. Give it all that you have, the time that you have, use it for your studies. Focus and ask your teachers as many questions as you can,” Tshabalala said.
“To that pupil in any grade — if you lay the foundation now, if you start collecting the bricks to build now, trust me it is highly possible that you end up here and even higher places.”
INSIDE EDUCATION
