The influence that a teacher has over the direction of a learner’s future should not be underestimated.
Mitchell House College gr. 12 learner of 2013, Thoriso Rampedi (18), is living proof of this. “My favourite subject was physical science, more the chemistry side of it.
“When I started in gr. 10, I had a teacher who made it impossible for me not to love this subject. It intrigues me,” she says.
She finished fifth in her grade and her other subjects were English, Afrikaans, mathematics, life orientation, accounting, and life science.
She says she can’t remember what she wanted to be when she was seven years old, but her parents told her she always wanted to work with children and care for people.
Thoriso hasn’t made a final decision yet about the direction her future will take, and says she would like to study either occupational therapy or paediatrics at Tuks or the University of Cape Town. “Mitchell House made it easy for me to balance my academics, social and extra-mural activates. I did quite a lot of things with friends.
“We sometimes had general academic discussions in groups and I played sport with friends. Doing all this helped me manage all different parts of my life.”
Thoriso says she participated in different sporting codes such as athletics, netball, hockey, soccer, tennis and swimming. She also did chemistry and debating as extra mural activities.
“It is important for one to take part in sport and extra-mural activities. It keeps you busy and on your toes.”
She says, strange as it may seem, she never had a role model.
“My support system has been mainly from school and home. My teachers always played a role in my life as my parents away from home. They guided me and advised me on what would be best, just like my parents.”
Thoriso says community service was the best experience for her.
“I have found joy in things such as working on parents evening to serve tea, working in the tuck-shop, going to orphanages to take food or clothes, helping in school uniform shop and all the other wonderful activities I took part in.
“I learned that, even where there is no money, time is just as valuable to people.”
