Head Girl 2024. Like in previous years, Schools That Rock interview Head Leaders of High Schools in South Africa. Today we also learn more about Mudiwa Zharare, Head Girl 2024 from Curro Aurora, Randburg Gauteng.
Mudiwa, tell us more about yourself and your leadership.
- I’ve always felt drawn to being in leadership positions because of my innate need for things to be fair. I also have a desire to help others. When it comes to how I lead, my confident personality goes hand in hand with my empathetic nature. I like being a voice for people who don’t yet know how to express their own.
What are your personal goals for this year?
- I aspire to pass my matric year with 5, but hopefully 6 distinctions. I also aim to leave a legacy. Be the kind of leader that students remember and talk about for even years after I left the school.
What are your goals for Curro Aurora during your term of service?
- As Head Girl 2024, I aim to create a sense of fellowship between all people in the school and instil a sense of pride in the students to be part of Curro Aurora. With the help of my fellow councillors and the SRC run by myself and the head boy, I believe that these two values can be deeply planted in the students, during my term of service.
Tell us what were the biggest challenges you experienced as a learner of your school?
- Definitely my academic journey from primary school to the senior phase (gr.8 and 9,) to the FET phase. I struggled to adjust to the high school way of learning, after being a top academic student throughout primary school. My marks dropped between grade 8 and 9 and I just could not find a clear path on what to do. After seeking guidance from my teachers and the school, my marks started increasing again and I finished grade 11 with 5 distinctions.
What stands out most to you at your school?
- What stands out most, is how much our teachers truly care about us as people, not just how well we do. We have a very holistic way of learning where all aspects of our health are considered by our staff, and it makes attending school enjoyable and educational.
Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
- My mother. She is a soft-spoken but stern and fair leader. She does not have to scream and yell at people to make her presence felt, or her reprimands any more severe. She leads strictly, but with an air of elegance that demands one’s respect.
Mudiwa, you’re a kitchen article? What are you and why?
- ‘What to do with a flopped cake that still tastes amazing? Make cake pops!’ I am not perfect, I am said “flopped cake.” I have flaws and I make mistakes, but I embrace them, and it does not compromise who I am. My character, my personality, and my strengths, might not be cake material, but they manage to make a substance strong enough to be equally enjoyed, a cake pop.
How would your friends describe you?
- They would describe me as a pendulum. Someone with two opposite sides of their personality. I am hard-working, driven and take myself very seriously, but I equally value a good time, I live for adrenaline, and I love to laugh and just have fun.
What motivates you to achieve your goals?
- The future that I desire to live. In order to be successful, rich and make a difference in this world, I need to work hard from now. My short term goals only lead to the long term goals that will enable me to live the life that I desire.
Why would you advise learners to also become part of your school?
- I can promise anyone who comes to Curro Aurora that at my school you will be cared for. You will be seen and heard, and your opinions, problems and suggestions will be considered regardless of your age. At Aurora we value bettering ourselves and growing as leaders, and that means that everyone has a voice. That is important in today’s competitive and fast paced world, and that is why people should want to be part of my school, Curro Aurora.
Who is your favourite teacher and why?
- Mr. Appelman, my CAT teacher. He is an incredibly knowledgeable teacher in not only computer terms, but virtually everything else. I leave every lesson having learned something new from him. His class provides a safe space for me to vent about the stress of the school days, a quiet place for me to do work at breaks, and the comfort of air conditioning in winter and summer terms.
Mudiwa, what are your future goals?
- I want to become a systems analyst, and eventually have my own business and work as a consultant. I also want to be healthy in all aspects of life, at peace with my circumstances and secure in the person I am.
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https://www.curro.co.za/schools/curro-aurora-high-school
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