Two learners from HTS John Vorster selected for academic tour to the USA

Two Grade 10 learners of HTS John Vorster, Verno van der Westhuizen and Jozelle Botha were selected for the academic achievement school tour to the United States of America in September.

Van der Westhuizen said that this tour means indescribably much to him as they will be attending private lectures at MIT, Harvard, and Columbia universities as well as a private walking tour of Princeton university.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The tour will be a turning point in my academic career,” he said.

When he is not behind the books, he likes to keep himself busy with a piece of wood and a Dremel machine.

“Woodworking is a very fun way for me to let my creativity flow.”

He serves on the junior city council of Pretoria which requires a lot of his time.

“My dream is to study information technology after school and then start my own multi-platform in this direction. I also want to invest in real estate and hopefully be able to give help to those who need it.”

Van der Westhuizen and Botha were selected due to their exceptional academic achievements.

“I keep myself busy outdoors with mountain biking, golf and archery. I am very active and exercise every day. I won Gauteng North colours in archery in 2019 and finished sixth at the national championships. I’m also among my school’s top 10 cyclists of the 2021’s Spur Mountain Bike League. And a member of the school’s debate team,” said Van der Westhuizen.

However, something few people know about him is that he has been programming since the age of 11.

“Kobe Bryant (a former American basketball player) used to say, ‘rest at the end, not in the middle; the middle is the place to excel,’ and these are words close to my heart. My grandfather also always tells me, if you can help, help where you can.”

Botha said the tour to America will be an incredible experience for her.

“I am ready for an adventure at any time and this tour will definitely be an adventure to remember. It will also be a life changing experience to be able to visit all the fantastic universities that one usually only hears about in the movies, but never really have the opportunity to visit in person. Who knows… it may be a open door to get a scholarship from one of them,” she said.

She enjoys sewing and runs her own small business, Sunflower Scrunchies.

“I enjoy organising things. I am passionate about baking and cooking, especially trying out new recipes. It excites me to make something new out of nothing.”

Her plans after school are to go and study and then build a comfortable, stress-free life for herself by working hard and motivating herself every day to achieve absolute success.

“Through my success, I would also like to help others by giving them the knowledge and ability to build a comfortable, stress-free life for themselves.”

Botha is captain of HTS John Vorster’s u.16 netball team.

She also excels in public speaking as she won first place for the best junior Afrikaans speaker in the school last year.

“I am part of the school’s debate team and also play golf and do archery.

“In my heart I am a farm girl. I am at my happiest when I am surrounded by bushveld and animals.”

Her motto in life is “work hard in silence, let your success be your noise” words from Frank Ocean (an American singer and songwriter).

“I think the driving force suits me as I am generally a very quiet, introverted person,” she said.

The two are currently busy undertaking several fundraising projects to secure their tickets to America.

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