La Rochelle 2021

FA R E W E L L M E S S A G E – H E A D G I R L

Alexandra and Stella would always come to the rescue. Miss Bothma, according to me, you and Stella still owe us a performance here on stage. I have not forgotten about that one. Fast forward to Grade 10 where we could finally do the subjects we chose. So much easier, am I right? We were wrong. I remember the days where I would get confused between ‘velocity’ and ‘acceleration’ and do not even get me started on when it would switch to ‘snelheid’ and ‘versnelling’. I think my biggest achievement in high school is the fact that I have not failed a Science test, because you never know what you are going to get, especially in Physics. Do not even get me started on CAT. Matrics, if any of you know how to do proper page numbering, please give me a call before finals, because I still do not know how. And then came Grade 11 . The year that was not. I do not know about you, but I was so excited for 2020. It just seemed like the perfect year to turn your life around and to take control. Little did we know that 2020 would turn our lives around and that it would change our lives forever. I think all of us can pat ourselves on the back and be proud of all the challenges we have overcome this past year and a half. Matrics, I am immensely proud of all of you for giving your all after everything we have been through. We have shown such strength and courage. I have so much love for each one of you. We have now reached the end of our matric year. I think all of us can agree that Grade 12 IS NOT revision of Grade 11 and that you will need to work just as hard, if not harder than you ever have. Thank you for making this year one of the most memorable years of my high school career, despite all the uncertainties and obstacles that this year has brought. We have truly grown as a grade, and we have realised the importance of being there for one another, no matter what. My heart smiles when I see how much we have evolved, and I cannot wait to see where all of you end up in the future. I would like to say a special thank you to all our teachers for the countless hours they have put into preparing all the classes and teaching all of us. Sorry for all the grey hairs and headaches. We know we can be a handful, maybe more than a handful, but we appreciate all of you and we would not be the people that we are today without you. We will make you proud in the upcoming exams. Mr s Neeth l i ng, thank you for guiding us Matrics and for being patient with us. We are not the easiest grade to work with, and we know that, and that is why we thank you for not giving up on us. You were the mother figure we needed during the tough times we had to endure. Thank you for showing the Prefects that it is okay not to be okay and that we are all just human. We wish you and Mr Neethling all the best for your retirement ahead. To my f r i ends : Thank you for being there for me whenever I needed someone to talk to. I know I am not the easiest person to deal with and I am sorry for all the times I made you listen to my stories that would go on for hours. Just know that I will never forget any of you and that all of you hold such a special place in my heart. Thank you for helping me come out of my comfort zone and showing me that it is okay to be different. You have

never judged me, and I thank you for that. I do not know what I have done to deserve any of you. I would a l so l i ke to thank the Student Counc i l o f 2021 . Méla and I were blessed to lead such an amazing group of girls and we want to thank you for always giving your best. You made our job so easy. Thank you for always being on time and for always lending a helping hand when you saw things were tough on our side. Shamira, I think you should have brought more carrots to the Prefect Room, because our weekly snacks were everything but healthy. You also need to find yourself a new DJ, because DJ Octavia is officially off duty. I will cherish our Prefect Room memories forever. To t he head l eade r s o f 2022 , Jeanne, Milan, Shamira, Cara and Beryl: Good luck for the year ahead. Lean on one another when times become tough and know that you have an entire team that will always back you. You are not alone. I know that all of you are going to do such an amazing job and I cannot wait to see you blossom into your respective positions. Tann i e Mi eta : Thank you for always making sure the Prefect Room is neat and tidy. I am sorry for all the times we left milk in the fridge for too long. Hopefully our morning conversations made up for it. Let us hope the ‘lost and found’ will be in a better condition next year. To my par tner i n cr ime: Mé l a . I could not have asked for a better sidekick than you. Whenever I needed you, you were there. I am forever grateful for the bond we have, and I am so proud of the woman you have become. Thank you for being a good friend, a great example of a strong leader and for being my personal doctor. When my iron is low, I know whom to contact! Thank you for all the advice this past year and for being a shoulder for me to cry on when I needed one. You are the better half of me. Mamma and Pappa: You are the ones I should thank most of all. I cannot begin to thank you enough for everything you have done for me. I know I am stubborn, and I always like to do things my own way, but somehow you continue to love me and tolerate me. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been not having me at home every day for the past five years since I am the only child, but just know I am coming back soon. I hope you are prepared. Thank you for the constant love and support over the years and for motivating me to be the best version of myself. I love both of you with all my heart and I do not know what I would have done without you. I would l i ke to end off wi th a spec i a l message for the Mat r i c c lass of 2021: You have made it this far. You have survived all your worst days and you have managed to overcome all the curve balls life has thrown at you this far. Please do not give up now. You are all so close. The end is near. All you need to do is to push as hard as you can one last time. I believe in you and so does every person sitting in the En Avant today. All you need to do is believe in yourself. You have got this. Give yourself some credit. Do it for your parents, your teachers, for our fallen angels, Jade and Zara, but most importantly, do it for yourself. ‘ Take pride in how far you have come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget to enjoy the journey. ’ (Michael Josephson)

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