By Doreen Mokgolo
Two Physical Science top learners in Matric 2022 battled through anxiety and constant panic attacks to achieve the top grades in the country.
Boikanyo Khoza Modilate Secondary School and Tebatso Dilebe from a neighbouring school in Stinkwater, north of Tshwane both achieved 300/300 in Physical Science.
Boikanyo also achieved 100% in Mathematics while Tebatso obtained 99%.
Boikanyo said she started experiencing the attacks in March due to the pressure she felt just from being a Grade 12 learner.
“We were expected to write tests every week and my goal was to ace all of them. This forced me to block everything and only focus on my studies.
“There was a point that my family had to take me to the clinic to help me with the attacks. This is where I learned how to deal with them,” she added.
Tebatso said he channelled his frustration by exercising and focusing on one goal at a time.
“I had no choice but to work hard because I knew that my matric results were the only key to getting a bursary and rescuing my parents from poverty.
“My father who is a pensioner would sacrifice his pension grant for me to be able to travel to extra Mathematics and Physical Science lessons every Saturday,” he added.
The two said they started preparing for their matric class while in Grade 10 after selecting their stream of subjects.
They dedicated all their matric year to studying, learning how to tackle previous question papers and attending extra lessons on Saturdays and Sundays.
Boikanyo added that she was not confident with Physical Science but enjoyed Mathematics.
“My teachers and parents encouraged me to take the stream and their support in the last three years helped ease the frustration,” she said.
The learner’s parents said they decided to ease the burden of responsibilities by excusing them from all household chores.
The learners were not allowed to do anything outside of studying and resting when they were finished with their schoolwork for the day.
Pictured above: Tebatso Dilebe with Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane
Picture source: Supplied
