New School, New Scholar in Cape Town
Jessica* | Hoerskool Jan van Riebeeck, Cape Town
New 2024 Scholar | Age: 14 | Grade: 8
Background
Jessica lives with her mother who is an alcoholic and two sisters who move in and out of the house often to live with new boyfriends. Her father was a floor manager at a factory, where he met her while she was working as a security guard. He unfortunately passed on in 2017, changing the household situation as her mom has also struggled to find stable employment since then.
Extramurals
Netball and Chess
Career plan
I want to become a dermatologist because I want to help people be more comfortable in their skin and have greater self-confidence.
What is the most exciting thing about your new school? That I have met a lot of new people and that one of them, who is my classmate, told me that I’m her role model. I have also started playing chess for the first time and have enjoyed learning it.
What is different in your new school's educational offering compared to primary school? The work that we do is different from my primary school but what I appreciate is that my teachers are very good and they offer a lot of support to make it easier to learn. There is also a good library and I help out there. I enjoy helping out at the library because I also like reading.
Why does it help to be in a boarding school? It is quiet so it is easier to do schoolwork. The people at boarding are also great so it’s a good and productive environment to be in.
This opportunity can change my life because: The school I am in is good so I can learn better and meet other great people. It has given me the opportunity to see my potential and realise that I can do things I never thought I could do, like playing chess for example.
*Jessica is a pseudonym
