Thriving against all odds

Tsakane Secondary School matriculant Megan Mahlaba did not let anything come in the way of her success.
The bright youngster always had her sights set on seeing the world.

“I never want to stay in one place. I want to see and touch everything. I am an explorer,” she explains.

But in 2020 her life was brought to a standstill when she discovered she had a heart condition, after months of being ill.

She was in Grade Nine. The diagnosis resulted in an amputation.

“On July 26, 2020, my right leg was amputated from above the knee. I told myself that I have to move forward and achieve my dreams.

“My dreams got me out of that bed. What will become of me if I stay at home and do nothing? I wanted to go back to school,” she said.

With the help of her family, friends and teacher she was able to pass the year well. She said that every day her older brother would walk her to school, carrying her schoolbag. Her sisters would help her with homework. And her mother would pray with her, especially when she got overwhelmed.

“Everyone was so supportive and helpful. At school, they made it easy for me to get around, and everything was easy for me to reach,” she added.

True to her nature, Mahlaba achieved three distinctions in her NSC exams for 2023 (English First Additional Language, life orientation and history).

“I am very happy. I was a little surprised, but I am happy,” she said.

She is one of the top learners of Tsakane Secondary School class of 2023. She is passionate about accounting and law and also enjoys presenting.

“What you do today determines your future. If you give up, or you don’t do your best, you are only hurting yourself,” she concluded.

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