Head leaders 2024. Like previous years, Schools That Rock interviewed Head Leaders of High Schools in South Africa. The first 2024 candidate interviewed is Grace Bidii, Deputy Chairperson of Curro Century City in Cape Town.
Tell us more about yourself and your leadership.
- “I’m a self-driven person, I love interacting with new and familiar because I learn so much from diversity. This also helps me to integrate myself into any setting without feeling left out. Knowing people also allows me to incorporate each and every one into my leadership. As captain of my netball team last year, I’ve learnt by facing criticism without taking it personally and that has built me up to be the leader I am today.”
What are your personal goals for this year?
- My personal goal as one of the head leaders 2024 is firstly to pass matric. Not only with a bachelor’s degree but my aim to achieve at least 3 distinctions and even more. I would love to receive my NSC marks with an Aggregate of above 70% and I do want to do well in the subject I struggle with like IT. For IT I do want to maintain a mark of 65% and above. For the upcoming year 2025 is to be the best person I can be to my fullest potential in the new world “uni”. I want to study to save into my career comp sci.
What are your goals for your school for your term of service?
- The goals for my school are to motivate, uplift and encourage my fellow students whom I’m leading to become successful and reach their potential goals for their academic journey. I want to leave a legacy at my school as a student who not only motivated others academically, but also morally, spiritually, socially and sport wise.
Tell us about the biggest challenges you experienced as a learner of your school?
- The challenges I’ve faced was in 2023. Coming from a public school that does the CAPS curriculum. My current school, I had to adapt to the IEB curriculum. It was a quite challenging transit as I had to cope the immense workload which I wasn’t used to before. To overcome this challenge, I had many sleepless nights to be able to complete my tasks and assignments, I had to put in the extra effort and go the extra time to attend all the extra classes where teachers would assist me to catch up on a few things that I’ve missed out on. Like IT I had to catch up and adapt to a new language(Java) they were coding in, because where I previously was it was different(Delphi).
What stands out most to you at Curro Century City?
- What stands out to me at Curro Century City, as one of the Head leaders 2024, is our diversity. We have many students coming from different backgrounds and even welcome exchange students annually who teach us about what’s different from Curro Century City compared to home, which is good, and I do feel like each, and every student picks up something new from their peers every day.
Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
- My parents are my inspiration, because seeing how hard they work every day for me to have the best future I can get. It makes me want to even work extremely hard so that I can reward them for moulding me into the person I am today. Also for bringing me in this world until they see me reach my fullest potential to stand on my own, which I’m truly grateful for.
You’re a kitchen article? What are you and why?
- On a kitchen article I would be a Pot. Because everyone who does own a stove, do need pots to cook because being a pot you are being helpful to people so that at the end of the day they can have something to eat. I do feel like it resembles me as I do love to help people to reach their objectives using my talents, skills and knowledge.
How would your friends describe you?
- My friends would describe me as a chatter box, friendly, caring and a supportive person.
What motivates you to achieve your goals?
- Growing up in a Christian household. What motivates me to achieve my goals, is the word of God. It clarifies to me the plan and purpose that God created me for which moves me towards my goals.
Why would you advise learners to also become part of Curro Century City?
- I would advise learners to become part of my school, because they do provide you with the best educational environment. As Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Curro Century City is very sport and culture driven. So they do accommodate every learner, because every learner does have special talents and skills, not just in academics but in other departments offered at school.
Who is your favourite teacher and why?
- I don’t necessarily have a favourite teacher, but there is a teacher who I do look up to, Mr Nyemba. He doesn’t only teach students academics, but he also inspires me with his words of wisdom and morals. If I am facing a difficult situation, I know he’ll be there to direct and help/support and advise me in my decisions, and I do truly appreciate him for that.
What are your future goals?
- My future goals are to finish my studies, to get my master’s degree in comp sci and to find a stable job. Furthermore to help the less fortunate people who couldn’t be in the position that I’m in.
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