For Anathi Bam, education has been about more than passing exams. It has been a journey of discovering her strength, finding her voice and learning to believe in the future she wants to build.

The Barnato Park High School matric learner, originally from Ntibane village in Engcobo in the Eastern Cape, is part of the Roedean Academy, which has helped shape her outlook on education and life.

Her journey has not been without hardship. Since Grade 9, Bam has lived in a building without electricity, making studying at night difficult. She has also experienced bullying at school and endured the loss of loved ones, including her grandmother in January 2025.

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Through it all, her mother has remained her biggest supporter, buying rechargeable lights to help her study and encouraging her to persevere. Support from the academy, including its teachers and administrator Caroline Green, has also helped her navigate difficult periods.

Bam said attending the academy gave her access to resources, new experiences and a supportive community. From information technology lessons and swimming to a Grade 11 camp that strengthened her leadership and teamwork skills, these opportunities helped her see herself differently.

“The camp taught me leadership and teamwork,” she said, adding that the experience helped her recognise her potential as a problem-solver.

Also read: Honouring 15 years of success at Roedean Academy’s graduation ceremony

Although she once dreamed exclusively of becoming a doctor, Bam hopes to explore biotechnology or computer science, with the long-term ambition of combining technology and healthcare.

Reflecting on her journey, she said she was proud of surviving challenges she once thought she could not overcome.

Her message to other young people facing difficult circumstances is simple: “The road to achieving your goals is never straightforward. It is a roller coaster that can make you feel like giving up, but hold on because at the end the rainbow will be visible after that crazy storm.”

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