Two matriculants of the class of 2018 are flying the flag high for Mitchell’s Plain.
Mondale High School’s Natalie Alexander achieved a 91% aggregate, making her one of the top 40 pupils in the Western Cape, and AZ Berman High’s Lance Minnies was awarded the Special Ministerial Award for 2018.
Natalie and Lance received their awards at the Western Cape National Senior Certificate Awards Ceremony at Leeuwenhof last Thursday, January 10.
Matric was a busy and challenging year for Natalie, 18, who did not hesitate to ask for help from her teachers when she needed them to explain concepts she did not understand.
“I’m a person who loves challenges as it motivates me to improve myself.
Since the beginning I knew what I had to do to become successful in my matric year. I put in the time and extra effort.”
She attended extra maths and physics classes at Shawco on Saturdays and the talent development programme at University of Cape Town (UCT) during the holiday.
“I love learning new things so these classes really helped. My faith helped me persevere. My teachers helped me especially my two younger brothers, sister and parents with support.”
Her advice to 2019 matrics is to challenge themselves. “Don’t be dismayed when you don’t get the results you wished for but rather use that moment as a starting point to improve. To those who doubted your ability to achieve success, don’t focus on them, focus on proving your abilities to yourself.”
Being in the top 40 in the Western Cape was spectacular, she said. “It’s not every day I’m privileged to receive such a prestigious award. As I sat next to learners coming from wealthier schools I realised that no matter what your circumstances are, you can still achieve your goals. I am proud to have represented Mondale High School, Mitchell’s Plain.”
Natalie will be studying molecular biology and bio-technology at the University of Stellenbosch in 2019.
For Lance, it was a challenge to stay positive after he survived a fire that claimed the lives of eight people in 2016 in Beacon Valley (“In high spirits”, Plainsman, July 6 2016).
Kevin Voges, AZ Berman High School principal, said Lance, 19, was a work in progress. He had needed a lot of attention in the lower grades and took time out to focus on his attitude towards school and school work.
“After the fire, it was most heartbreaking for us. 2017 was the year of our first matriculant group and he did not make it. He matured when he came back and his mind was changed. We asked him about his future and kept him busy with thinking about that.
“The rest is all Lance’s work, he did the work himself, he sat with those books. He persevered and saw it through. Out of the 111 matriculants, he was the only one who said thank you. I am very proud of him.”
His mother, Rita Minnies, could not hold back her excitement for Lance.
She said she was extremely proud of him and his achievements. “The fire in 2016 was a difficult time for him. He lost two pinky toes and most times his legs would be in pain. He wanted to leave school but his teachers would visit him to encourage him not to.”
She is excited for him as this is a dream come true she said. “I am in denial as it is a reality. This is a desire of his. He told me he doesn’t want to sit at home, he wants to sit in a nice place and eat at a nice table with a knife and a fork. He was thrilled when he received the award that day, a moment of a lifetime really.”
She encouraged parents to never give up on their children and their education. No matter what they say, let them go to school, she said, “it doesn’t matter if they come from Mitchell’s Plain. I am truly grateful for all the help, thank you to everyone who assisted Lance.”
Lance is still coming to terms with his achievement. He had been nominated for the award.
“I can’t explain the feeling, I was very excited, overwhelmed and didn’t expect the award. My teacher told me I would receive this award.”
He said he came close to giving up.
“It was really disappointing when they held me back in Grade 11 while I was in hospital. I wanted to give up and didn’t want to go to school. My family and friends motivated me and I went back to school,” said Lance.
“It doesn’t matter where you grow up and where you come from, education is very important. Put everything in from day one, what you sow, you will reap. The 2019 matrics must keep in mind their future and the foundation they will set for their children one day. Set goals and never let circumstances and people determine your future, said Lance.