Sedaven High School learner Mandisa Tshabalala made her school proud after receiving three certificates and a trophy at the Sedibeng East District prize-giving ceremony for her academic performance and recognition as the top achiever in the mid-year examinations.

Mandisa said she was happy, excited and grateful to be acknowledged for her hard work.

When asked what motivated her to excel, Mandisa said she wanted to make her parents proud and improve on her previous results.

“The results I had been getting in the past few years did not make me happy, so I made a promise to myself to work harder. Most importantly, I wanted to use my results to apply to tertiary institutions and pursue my dream career,” Mandisa said.

To achieve her success, Mandisa followed a disciplined study routine.

“I designed a study timetable to revise all the work I did in class. I also watched educational YouTube videos, asked for help from other teachers and practised past exam papers.

“I made sure not to go to bed without studying. For subjects or topics I didn’t understand, I watched online lessons.”

Mandisa credited her mother as her biggest inspiration and support system, saying her encouragement kept her focused and motivated.

Balancing schoolwork and other activities was another key part of her success.

“During the week, I concentrated on my studies, and on some weekends, I made time for other activities. In everything you do, pray to God and work hard, even when it gets tough. Believe in yourself, stay disciplined, and don’t let distractions like cellphones and TV stop you from reaching your goals,” she said.