I have been teaching at Southern Cross Schools for more than a decade. In my years of teaching, some learners fade into the mists of time, while others stand out more clearly in my mind. Those who stand out strongly have been so many widely varied individuals, but all of them share the common traits of being youngsters with a go-get-‘em attitude who have every intention of grabbing what life has to offer. They are also usually the ones who make me laugh.
Two such youngsters were with us because of the generosity of The Balule Outreach Trust – Kgaphy Mathole and Leonie Wiltshire. Leonie and Kgaphy matriculated in 2020. On the night of their matric farewell in October 2020, I looked at these two confident, intelligent, sparky young adults and I had a vision of them as the unsure, naïve children who had arrived in grade 8 almost five years previously. It has been a privilege to be a part of their life journeys and to witness them growing and finding their feet.
Although such different characters, Kgaphy and Leonie have both been very actively involved in every aspect the school has to offer throughout their time here, and have achieved great things, both in the classroom and out of the classroom. Their final results have made us proud (Kgaphy matriculated with two distinctions, and Leonie with three distinctions) and both have gone on to study. Leonie is studying Civil Engineering at the University of Pretoria, and Kgaphy is studying Accounting at the University of Johannesburg.
But far more important than that, each of them has that attitude – the one that will take them places! I look forward to seeing what the future holds for each of them and the paths they forge for themselves.
Alex Bradford, College Teacher