Redhill School learner Pabalelo Atlegang Ngwato looks back on 2025 as a year defined not only by academic achievement but also by personal growth, resilience, and self-discovery.
Ngwato achieved an impressive 85% average and five distinctions, a testament to her diligence and wholehearted commitment.
Beyond her academics, she found her voice through music and creative writing, performing with the string ensemble, orchestra, and show choir, while serving as Vice-Captain of the Redhill Orchestra.
Looking back on her matric year, Ngwato recalls a journey filled with emotional highs and lows.
“People often say that matric was their best year, but I wouldn’t say it was my best year because of the amount of stress and pressure I felt. However, I did make happy memories that I will carry for the rest of my life and had experiences that built me as a person. So although it was not my best year, it was the most memorable.”
Among the memories she treasures most are the quiet, unguarded moments shared with friends during exam season.
“The moments or experiences that stood out for me were when my friends and I would sit in the art classroom before and after our exams, preparing for the next exam, having intense debates on the most random things and dancing to release some of the stress.”
She explains that these moments taught her the importance of balance. “It’s important that while in a stressful situation, you maintain balance by doing the things you love. Dancing with my friends helped me.”
Like many matriculants, Ngwato wrestled with the weight of expectations. “I initially struggled to maintain my expectations, which just caused me more stress.” Over time, she found grounding through faith and perspective.
“Later on when I felt stressed, I would put everything down and pray, asking God to keep me calm.”
She credits her older sister with a reminder that shifted her mindset: “My older sister reminded me that my school marks don’t define me, and if I work hard, I can work towards what I hope to get, but remember not to expect perfection, only improvement.”
Support from those around her proved invaluable. “Every person in my life played a significant role throughout my journey.”
She speaks with gratitude about her teachers: “They were willing to sit down with me and give me detailed explanations on where I went wrong and how to improve.”
To stay focused, Ngwato explains that she developed routines that nurtured both discipline and joy. “First and foremost, listening to worship music and doing my affirmations every morning helped to ground me.”
She adds, “This kept me calm and reminded me that God hears and answers prayers. Another habit that kept me motivated was doing something I loved when the stress got to me… which created a fun reward system. It was also important to stay committed to my work this year, even when I didn’t feel like it.”
As final exams approached, she was determined to overcome old habits. “Throughout my schooling journey, I was always a victim of last-exam-syndrome, so I reminded myself to stay focused for the last stretch of exams.” Resisting distractions required constant self-discipline: “I had to remind myself that I would have more time to do this and relax after my exams.”
Looking ahead, Ngwato is driven by a desire to serve. “I am hoping to become a medical doctor, later specialising in paediatrics.”
Her inspiration is rooted in compassion: “I recently realised that I enjoy seeing people happy because it is such a special feeling that not many people get to experience.”
She believes health is central to happiness and purpose: “I believe that helping people feel healthy is a step towards them feeling happier, and I want to play a part in that.”
With integrity at the heart of her ambition, she adds, “I want to be someone who genuinely helps patients regardless of financial gain, and I hope that one day I can contribute to increasing the trust people have in modern medicine.”
To those preparing for matric, her message is simple yet powerful: “Never give up and keep working towards the goal even if you think it’s too late or unattainable because you’ll surprise yourself in the end.”
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star