17 Sep 2024

Perseverance yields good results no matter how impossible situations seem.

Lotus Resources Botswana External Affairs manager , Mr Cedric Mpedi said this when delivering keynote address at the Shashe River School prize giving and top achievers celebration ceremony in Tonota on Friday.

Mr Mpedi said pupils needed to learn to persevere and strive for success and never give up even though the road to success was not an easy one.

He also noted that pupils needed unlearn what was not necessary for academic success and relearn better ways of attaining better results.

“Every setback is an opportunity to grow,” added Mr Mpedi.

He said just like any other, the academic journey had its own hiccups, therefore pupils would always face challenges, saying however that they should never be discouraged but focus on the bigger prize, which is academic excellence and victory.

“With focus determination and effort you can achieve more,” added Mr Mpedi, also noting that success was not a destination, but a journey measured by each step of determination.

For his part, Shashe River School head, Mr Mpaladzi Majingo said the role the school had played in the academic wellbeing of the learner had become visible in the 2023 results with 11 candidates obtaining 48 points.

He thanked stakeholders for being involved in making sure that learners got the desirable education.

Mr Magingo further said the celebration marked the beginning of a success story, stating that the standard of education had risen and it was powered by commitment and the ability to keep of shouldering on even in difficult times.

For his part, Shashe River deputy school head, Mr George Showa said discipline was one of the key features that made academic excellence attainable in the school.

He added that the main aim of the school was to be the best nationally as they managed to emerge in position 1 regionally in 2023.

 “The secret is to be the most hard working individual in any learning room,” he added.

He advised pupils to take lessons that when you excel you grow up and join the world of achievers from last year top achievers.

“A good student acquires knowledge while an exceptional student acquires the art of critical thinking from the knowledge they learn and goes on to find new solutions for the world problems,” added Mr Showa.

For her part, Ms Tsaone Kooletile who made it to the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education top 10 in 2023 by attaining 6A* and 4As, walking away with P10 000 cash prize form the school and community sponsors advised the pupils that success would not come on a silver platter, but it would come as a result of hard work, hence they should prioritise school work.

She noted that she ignored a lot of things that could not help her in her studies, adding that she did not have time for social media and loitering, but spent most of her time studying.

“I had a very strict study timetable and I made sure I followed it at all times and I sacrificed socialising just to study. It was not easy, but it was worth the price,” said Ms Kooletile.

She also highlighted that family played a major role in moulding the behaviour of learners, adding that she got a lot of support from her family, who made sure she was prepared to face her examinations.

In attendance was also Mr Obakeng Sekga who attained 6A*s, 1A and Mr Lefika, who attained 6A*s, 2As, both walking away with P9 000 prize money. Ends