With the preliminary examinations around the corner, Yo School Magazine asked top performing learner in 2015 at Blue Eagle High School Siyabonga Khanyi to share some study tips before the examinations, particularly the Matric Class of 2019.
She had the following valuable insights and tips: Trust in the Lord in everything. Do not rely on your own ability but in His power. Faith without works is dead – James 2 verses 14 to 26.
You need Focus: – focus has several elements:
o Be true to your studies
o Say no to procrastination
o Train yourself to always believe in education.
Some Study Tips:
TIME management is vital, and a study time-table is a MUST.
Being Organized:
• School books/textbooks
• Study sessions
• Study place
• Ask for assistance if you are challenged,
• Be inquisitive be free to talk to your teachers- ask even if things seem to be easy,
• Always offer to assist -that brings balance in recalling things you have done before,
• Highlight every important part of the subject or what you study – colours always assist you to remember,
• Do extensive research
• Try study groups –they work because there are things that you might not know but it would have been easy if you got it from other members
• Enough sleep helps
• Reduce eating junk food because the food drains your energy
• BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING- NOTHING IS EVER HARD
• Drink lots of water and healthy balance diet for the brain to function properly
• Have a book where your write your definitions and you can always paste them on the wall, so you read them regularly
• Lastly, have fun at all times-this is because whenever you have fun you never forget.
How did you organise yourself from August 2019 to the end of the year?
The longer you give yourself, the more time you have to discover and work on those areas that are weak. You also give yourself more time to go and find the support you need,” my favourite quote. Have a Mentor, Mrs. Mosane was and still is my highlight during my high school days besides my family .
Mrs. Mosane became my mentor the first day she became my physical science teacher. Grown as I am, I still find her more productive in my journey. Perseverance is critical. Even if you do not have a glowing academic record, it is never too late to give your best – when you start trying, you’ll start succeeding.
During my mid-year and preliminaries examinations I had to understand that every exam that we were writing reflected the final examination, so I had to pull myself up when writing the exam and make sure that I understand the key objectives of the exam.
This helped because I could relate with the final exam. It’s vital that when you write an exam especially in matric that you understand every question structure: getting used to it and not just answering the questions because you think you know the answers but answering the question because you understand the clear objective of what the question wants. This pulled me through all my examinations before my FINALS.
What are you doing now at Varsity and where? How are you doing?
I am currently studying Software Engineering at Belgium Campus (Private Accredited Institution) in Pretoria North, I can say that I am really privileged to find myself in this institution. I thought I’d be one of those students who would be attending at Wits or UCT or any other traditional University around South Africa, but I found myself in a small Faculty of Information Technology and I’m comfortable with it. It was my third choice of study in terms of my career path, but I now understand that everything happens for a reason.
I am coping but it is not an easy career path – it is frustrating, draining and sometimes you wish you were done but it is important to understand what you want in life and why you are doing something, that will keep you going!
What do you say to our Matric Class of 2019 about Varsity Life and how they can fit in?
When you get to University things change because you don’t have any teachers who follow you around lecturers just give you objectives of what you need to understand, and you need to do more research of what you’re studying. I really hope that matriculants are already applying for tertiary studies – apply to many universities as you can.
To fit into varsity or college it is important that you are intentional with everything that needs to be accomplished. Try out new methods of studying and don’t be afraid to ask if you feel like your fellow mates understand better – IT WILL ONLY MAKE YOU BETTER.
What are the plans in terms of your career?
In terms of my career well, I may not put it out there, but I am going bigger and GREATER than you can ever think or imagine. I’ll leave a landmark on Earth
Any advice on funding for tertiary education?
Bursaries are everywhere, apply and apply. There is no way that you can be rejected and make sure that you shake up your results, because there are millions of students. You don’t want to be one of those who are on standby and not accepted because someone got an average better than yours.
