Cape Town - With several distinctions between them, the Western Cape’s top matric achievers say hard work, sacrifice and consistency were their keys to success.
Rustenburg Girls’ High School pupil Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan came second nationally in the quintile 5 schools (wealthiest schools) category.
The 18-year-old achieved 100 percent in history and distinctions (in the 90s) for the rest of her subjects - English, Afrikaans, French, mathematics, physical sciences and life orientation.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’m very grateful to all the teachers and staff at the school. Throughout the year I worked really hard,” she said.
Yi-Tin was a school prefect, deputy head prefect of hostel, head of Retro History Society, deputy head of Interact (the junior branch of Rotary International), a member of the Cultural Society and on the school’s Bug Magazine editorial team.
In addition, she was a Lerato’s Hope Brand Ambassador and took part in the President’s Award.
The Parow teenager said she hadn’t expected to do so well. “I worked very hard in the third term, but in my last term I put in a normal amount of work.”
Yi-Tin has yet to decide whether to study business science or law at UCT.
Sisipho Khubukeli, 18, a pupil at the Pioneer School for the visually impaired in Worcester, said her proudest achievements were achieving As for history and Afrikaans.
“I’m very proud and surprised. I knew I wouldn’t fail, but was surprised with the huge response I received nationally.”
The teenager, who was born blind, lives with her grandmother in Khayelitsha after her mother died several years ago.
“I studied really hard.”
She will now go on to do a BA degree in language and culture at the University of Stellenbosch.
Hassan Fifirey, 19, from Iqra Academy in Belhar, passed with five distinctions, despite challenges and concerns over the future of the school.
“I’m very happy with my results; I aimed for five distinctions and I got them.
“There was a lot of uncertainty at school, with a lot of talk of our school closing down.
“We didn’t have classes every day but I worked and studied very hard.”
The school facilities are basic with no computer and physical science labs, he added.
Tahir Ebrahim, 18, a pupil at Livingstone High, passed with an aggregate of 94.7 percent and came first in his grade.
“I worked consistently throughout the year and sacrificed sport and computer games during exam time. I’m extremely happy with my results and will be studying medicine at UCT or Stellenbosch.”
Cape Argus