Kgomotso Sekhukhune is a girl on the move! She needs to get to Netball Trials, finish her Physics practical, and study for the three tests happening this week. In between, she is relishing her responsibilities as a councillor and leader of the school: she reflects on how the councillors have grown as a group, and how much she has learned from working with others - about being open-minded to other people's opinions, and listening to understand their perspectives.
Time management is a skill which is being honed fast in this, her final year of school. But being a Jeppe girl, she has learned all the way from Grade 8 how important it is to back yourself, and to take control of your own life. She reflects on working at her own pace to achieve what she has set her sights on - increasing academic success and a goal of five distinctions in her Matric exams.
A sporty girl, she has won a hat trick as the Best Defender at the Netball awards in Under 15, 16 and 17. Her favourite Jeppe event is the Inter-house netball and hockey day. In Athletics, she participated in the 200m event, and represented Protea in the inter-house debating competition.
Meeting Gill Marcus was a highlight of Kgomotso's years as a Ruth First scholar. She was struck by her independence and strong will - attributes which Kgomotso admires and aims to replicate. This was complemented by the perspective which her mentor, Karen Hurt provided on the need for balance at a spiritual, mental and physical level in order to achieve success. Going to the Ruth First lectures at Wits, and being provided with opportunities to think outside of the box have also been high points of her participation in the scholarship programme.
Kgomotso would like to study Economics and Risk Management at Wits, UJ or UNW. She sees herself in business with her sister, working together to combine their skills in an entrepreneurial venture, most likely in the logistics area. This is a way off, but there is no doubt she's on the right track. And with her dance moves to Sia's "Chandelier", this somewhat reserved quietly confident young woman, also demonstrates her fun side!
Kgomotso is pictured above on the right hand side, with her 'Blue' mentor group.