S.E.T. for socio-economic growth
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Fanelesibonge would like to see our youth actively participating in the development of our communities.
I am currently studying medicine, and my main reason is passion. From an incredibly young age, I always wanted to pursue something in health care. At that time, it was mainly because in my community, when you excel academically, people expect you to become a doctor. As I grew older, especially during grade 10 and 11, I was in a moratorium phase, questioning a lot of things about myself that included the career path I had previously wanted to pursue. I had to reflect a lot, and I finally had the chance to understand my true reasons for wanting to study medicine. My character aligns strongly with the qualities of a doctor, and I know I am capable of succeeding in this path.
My saviour, Jesus Christ inspired me and even now He is still inspiring me to study medicine. The Lord in the bible occasionally shows that we are destined to help one another. He helped and continues to help humankind selflessly. He inspires me every day to assist when I have the means to and studying medicine will give me that opportunity to assist people.
I would like to see our youth actively participating in the development of our communities. Our country could be a better place by giving young people an opportunity with the guidance of more matured and experienced people. I have been inspired by this young lady who is advocating for change in her community. I want to implement something that has a similar aim to hers. I want to assist the youth in my community through motivation to study because education is still the key to success. I also want to assist them through application to varsities and colleges and motivate them to actively participate in sports. This way our youth will remain active, increasing their critical thinking skills which will benefit our country.
I completed my matric at Vukile High School, which is located in Maphumulo in KZN province. The school has an enrolment of about 1300 learners and about 45 educators. The school is under resourced, but better than other schools in the area. It has a boarding section, but I was a day scholar. I live 3km away from the school in a village called EkuNqobeni. The school has a science lab and three excellent physical science teachers. Most of the teachers are dedicated, and Saturdays are a normal school day.
The two subjects challenged me so much. I am the kind of person who enjoys challenges, and using my mind to figure out solutions really excites me. I never liked the simple stuff, so when doing physics and maths, I would get excited because of the different challenges I would encounter when working with the problems. The subjects did not have a lot of notes, but it required your understanding of the basics, with that you can tackle even the most complicated problems.
Most learners have this mindset that physical sciences and maths are difficult. Your mindset can significantly affect your learning approach. If you believe physical sciences and maths are hard, you might find them more challenging than they should be. Just think of these two subjects as flowers that you need to water to grow and bloom. Maths and physical science need consistent attention and practice to flourish in your mind. Do not be discouraged if you get lower than your expectations in your tests or exam. I also started with marks I am not proud of, but with discipline and the right approach, I improved. Do not be afraid to ask for help, it’s not about getting it right the first time, but it’s about being brave enough to ask for help when you need it. Do not hesitate to reach out for help, it is part of the learning process.
Plan how are you going to study, this can include drafting studying timetables and also include breaks in between because the brain also does need to relax and rest to avoid burnouts. Study consistently all the subjects you are doing and content based subjects should have more of the studying time. Have family, friends and relatives that will support you because it can get hard and a shoulder to lean on will be needed. Get adequate sleep, but also give yourself enough time to study, this involves managing your time well. Seek help whenever you need it – from educators, peers, leaders, or even community members – not only for academic challenges but also for personal issues. You need to be biologically, psychologically, and socially healthy to succeed in your academic journey.
They should apply as early possible and apply to as many universities as possible. This maximises your chances of being accepted. Check your emails and respond to institutions in time as they have many deadlines. They should also apply for funding and finally work hard to achieve excellent results.
An achiever is someone with a vision, who sets achievable goals, a planner, an organiser, and someone who is always working under pressure. An achiever manages time, has fewer sleeping nights, someone who works like a slave to live like a king tomorrow. An achiever is a researcher and a lifelong learner.
Through education we can make this country a better place for our generation and for future generations. With what God has given us, our brains, let us work harder and not waste time on things that will not benefit us in any way, but instead lead to our downfall. Let us work together for ourselves and for the future. As the saying goes, “United we stand, divided we fall.”
To all the teachers at Joel Primary School and Vukile High School, you have done an excellent job in shaping many kids’ (including myself) future to be a brighter one, may you continue doing this marvellous job. You have shown the ability to improvise and exceed your duties by offering extra classes, even when resources are limited. May the living God bless you all immensely. Remember that each child that walk through those school gates is unique and from diverse backgrounds, therefore need to be given individual attention so they can excel.
I would choose the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube. As a student who comes from an underdeveloped area and a school with limited resources, I would ask the minister to work on equal distribution of resources, for example, science laboratories, computer labs and other equipments. They should consider leave placement and work or Post-Provisioning Norm (PPN) as they are negatively affecting learning. They should also strengthen safety and security in schools, as learners are vulnerable to criminals, and some are being influenced to distribute drugs. Lastly educators should be awarded for working beyond their call of duty.
S.E.T. for socio-economic growth
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