Hoërskool Die Wilgers. Jana Goosen, Adjunk-President en Hoofdogter van Hoërskool Die Wilgers vir 2022/2023, vertel ons meer van haarself en haar leierskap.
Jana, vertel ons van jouself en jou leierskap
“Ek is Jana Goosen, tans ‘n graad 11-leerder aan Hoërskool Die Wilgers, ‘n oud-Skuilie en ‘n trotse Wilgie vanaf graad 8. Verder is ek ook die oudste van 2 kinders en is baie opgewonde oor my boetie wat volgende jaar gaan aansluit by die “Wilgie-familie”. Ek dien al op die VLR sedert graad 8. Elke jaar het ek ook op ‘n portefeulje gedien. Graad 8: Tradisies; in graad 9: Bemarking; graad 10 was daar nie portefeuljes gekies nie weens Covid-19. Is wel gekies om ons skool te verteenwoordig op die Junior Stadsraad van Pretoria. Einde graad 10 is ek nie gekies om op die VLR te dien vir die graad 11-dienstermyn nie. Persoonlik was dit vir my ‘n groot terugslag en ek moes myself forseer om Dr. Maritz en Juffrou de Vos se woorde te glo – “God het ‘n plan!”
Later die jaar is ek gekies om as die voorsitter van my Komitee op die Junior Stadsraad van Pretoria te dien. Dit het vir my soveel deure oopgemaak en ek het werklik geleer hoe om ‘n leier vir ander leiers te wees. Ek het ervaring opgedoen deur saam met sterk leiers regoor Pretoria te werk en ons jeug te dien.
Hoe het die vorige vier jaar by Hoërskool Die Wilgers jou voorberei vir die rol as leier?
My vorige vier jaar as leerder by Hoërskool Die Wilgers het my voorberei vir die rol as ‘n leier deur vir my die geleentheid te bied om die kinders van ons skool beter te leer ken. Om op die VLR te kon dien vir drie jaar, het ook vir my die geleentheid gegee om saam met ander grade se leiers tyd te spandeer en hulle beter te leer ken. So het ek ook besef wat die behoeftes is van die kinders in ons skool.
Wat is jou persoonlike doelwitte vir die volgende jaar?
Om keuring aan die Universiteit te kry vir wat ek graag wil gaan studeer na skool.
Wat is jou doelwitte vir Hoërskool Die Wilgers vir jou dienstermyn?
- Ek wil ‘n verskil in ten minste een persoon se lewe te kan maak soos wat my matriek – Chanté Bothma – in graad 8 in my lewe gemaak het.
- Om ‘n sterker “familie-gevoel” in ons skool te vestig en die skool vir elke Wilgie ‘n “Go-to” plek te kan maak.
- Ek wil graag die Wilgies trots maak op ons skool, om liefde onder mekaar te kweek en respek teenoor ons skool te vestig.
Wat was die grootste uitdagings wat jy ervaar het as ‘n Wilgie?
- Om te besef dat almal nie soos ek is nie; dat dit vir party die grootste “straf” is om skool toe te kom en om werklik trots te wees op ons skool.
- Selfs om die leerders wat nie die reëls nakom nie te verstaan en myself in te hou wanneer ek hulle teëkom.
Wat staan die meeste vir jou uit by HSDW?
Die band wat ons as leerders met ons onderwysers het. Vir ons is hulle nie net onderwysers van Hoërskool Die Wilgers nie; hulle is soos ‘n tweede moeder wat jou aanvaar nes jy is. ‘n Onderwyser wat jou skoolklere sal was as sy sien jy kry swaar; ‘n onderwyser wat Vrydagmiddag saam met jou sal gaan uiteet. Ons onderwysers stel belang en is meer as net ‘n onderwyser.
Jy is n kombuis-artikel? Wat is jy en hoekom?
Ek is ‘n Woolworths-rasper – nie omdat hy so duur is nie, maar omdat hy so groot is. Net soos die kaas in honderde stukkies gerasper word, net so wil ek deel wees van honderde groot- en jongmense se lewens en ‘n positiewe impak op hulle lewens maak.
Hoe sou jou vriende jou beskryf?
Ek glo my vriende sal my beskryf as ‘n ekstrovert, iemand wat maklik met ander kommunikeer en iemand wat die vermoë het om ander te laat luister en deel te laat neem. Ek glo ook dat hulle my as iemand sal beskryf wat vriendelik en behulpsaam is.
Wat motiveer jou om jou ideale te bereik?
My toekomsdrome en die wete dat ek alleen bepaal hoe my toekoms vorentoe gaan kan wees.
Hoekom sou jy leerders aanraai om ook deel van ons skool te word?
Ek sal ander leerders aanraai om deel van Hoërskool Die Wilgers te word omdat dit regtig soos ‘n tweede huis voel.Jy gaan jouself kan wees by ons skool en jou talente ten volle kan uitleef, maak nie saak wat dit is nie. Ons is ‘n Akademiese-, Sport- en Kultuurskool. Hier is werklik ‘n plek vir elkeen. Jy is nie net ‘n nommer nie. Aalmal ken mekaar en die onderwysers stel meer in jou belang as net in die skoolwerk wat jy moet doen. Ons skool is regtig ‘n plek van geleenthede, ontwikkeling en prestasies. Elkeen het ‘n plekkie onder die son.
Wie is jou gunsteling onderwyser en hoekom?
Persoonlik het ek nie ‘n gunsteling onderwyser nie. Elke liewe onderwyser by wie ek al in my hoërskoolloopbaan klas gekry het, het my lewe verander en verryk. Selfs die ontvangsdames in die kantoor. Ek mis ook ons proefstudent. Juffrou de Vos wat al ons graadvoog is vanaf graad 8, speel ‘n groot rol in my lewe en ek kyk baie op na haar.
Juffrou Petra wat my altyd bystaan en raad gee, selfs my leer hoe om sterk te staan en net myself te wees in wat ookal ek doen. Sy sien my potensiaal raak en betrek my altyd by die dinge waarin ek belangstel. Juffrou Annie Bothma het ook ‘n groot rol in my lewe gespeel vanaf graad 8 totdat sy ons skool aan die begin van die jaar verlaat het. Meneer Johan Brits en Juffrou Sanmari speel vanaf graad 8 ‘n groot rol in my lewe; ek kan enigiets met hulle deel en hulle sal my altyd bystaan en motiveer om dit wat ek wil bereik te kan bereik.
Wat is jou toekoms-ideale?
Om suksesvol te wees en ‘n verskil te kan maak in ander se lewens. Vanaf ‘n klein dogtertjie op laerskool tot vandag toe nog, wil ek ‘n onderwyseres word. Ek wil deel wees van ander se lewens; ‘n verskil maak waar ek kan en ‘n Juffrou wees vir baie, soos wat my onderwysers vir my is.”
Jana Goosen – Head Girl, Die Wilgers High School.
Jana Goosen, Deputy President and Head Girl 2022/2023 from Die Wilgers High School, tells us more about herself and her leadership
“I am Jana Goosen, currently a Grade 11 learner at Die Wilgers High School. Proud to be an ex-Skuilie and a proud Wilgie from Grade 8. I am the oldest of two children. My little brother will be joining the “Wilgie family” next year. I have served on the COL since grade 8. I also served on a portfolio every year. Grade 8 – Traditions; 9th Grade – Marketing; Grade 10 – not selecting portfolios due to Covid- 19. I was chosen to represent our school on the Junior City Council of Pretoria.
At the end of Grade 10, I was not selected to serve on the FSA for the Grade 11 term of service. Personally, it was a big setback for me and I had to force myself to believe Dr. Maritz and Miss de Vos’ words — “God has a plan!” Later that year I was chosen to serve as the chairperson of my Committee on the Junior City Council of Pretoria. It has opened so many doors for me and I really learned how to be a leader for other leaders. I gained experience working with strong leaders across Pretoria and serving our youth.
How did the previous 4 years at Die Wilgers prepare you for the role as leader?
My previous 4 years as a learner at The Willows High School prepared me for the role of a leader by giving me the opportunity to help the children get to know our school better. Being able to serve on the COL for Three years, also gave me the opportunity to work with other degrees’ leaders. spend time and get to know them better. So I also realized the needs of the children in our school.
What are your personal goals for the next year?
To get selection at the University for which I would like to go and study after school.
What are your goals for HSDW for your term of service?
- To be able to make a difference in at least one person’s life as my matric – Chanté Bothma – made in my life in Grade 8 have.
- I want to instill a stronger “family feeling” in our school and to be able to make the school a “Go-to” place for each Wilgie.
- I also want to make our Wilgies proud of our school, to cultivate love among ourselves and to establish respect towards our school.
What were the biggest challenges you experienced as a Wilgie?
- To realize that everyone is not like me; that for some it is the greatest “punishment” to come to school and to be truly proud of our school.
- Even understanding the learners who don’t follow the rules and restraining myself when I encounter them.
What stands out most to you at HSDW?
- The bond we as learners have with our teachers. For us, they’re not just teachers. They are like a second mother who gives you accept as you are. A teacher who will wash your school clothes if she sees you are suffering. A teacher who will go with you on Friday afternoon dinner. Our teachers are interested, and are more than just a teacher.
You’re a kitchen article? What are you and why?
I’m a Woolworths grater. Not because it’s so expensive, but because it’s so big. Just as the cheese is grated in hundreds of pieces, likewise, I want to be a part of the lives of hundreds of young people and make a positive impact on their lives.
How would your friends describe you?
I believe my friends would describe me as an extrovert. Someone who communicates easily with others and someone who has the ability to let others, listening and participating. I also believe that they would describe me as someone who is kind and helpful.
What motivates you to achieve your goals?
My future dreams and knowing that I alone determine how my future can be going forward.
Why would you advise learners to also become part of our school?
I would advise other learners to become part of our school because it really feels like a second home, you are going to be able to be yourself at our school and be able to live out your talents to the fullest, no matter what they are. We are an Academic, Sport and Cultural School. Here is truly a place for everyone. You’re not just a number. Everyone knows each other and the teachers are more interested in you than just in the schoolwork you have to do. Our School is really a place of opportunity, development and achievements. Each one has a spot under the sun.
Who is your favourite teacher and why?
Personally, I don’t have a favourite teacher. Every single teacher I’ve ever gotten into class with in my high school career has my life changed and enriched. Even the receptionists in the office. I also miss our probationary student. Miss de Vos who is our grade guardian from grade 8. She plays a huge role in my life and I look up to her a lot.
Miss Petra who always assists and advises me, even teaches me how to stand strong and just being myself in whatever I do. She sees my potential and always involves me in the things I’m interested in. Miss Annie Bothma also played a huge role in my life from Grade 8 until she left our school at the beginning of this year. Mister Johan Brits and Miss Sanmari plays a major role in my life from grade 8. I can share anything with them and they will always assist and motivate me to what I want to be able to achieve.
What are your future goals?
To be successful and to be able to make a difference in the lives of others. From a little girl in elementary school to the present day, I want a becoming a teacher. I want to be a part of the lives of others; making a difference where I can and being a teacher to many, as my teachers are to me.
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