Hoofmeisie BVHS. In ons reeks oor hoërskole se hoofleiers vir volgende jaar, gesels Schools That Rock met Shannon Purchase. Shannon, Hoofmeisie van Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoërskool vir 2023, vertel ons meer van haarself en haar leierskap.
“Ek is ‘n plaasmeisie met uithouvermoë, nederig en baie avontuurlustig. Om ander te help is een van my strewes en ek sien myself as ‘n leier wat kan luister, maar ook ferm kan wees en besluite kan neem. Ek leef voluit en probeer om die beste van elke oomblik te maak. Ek kan ook goed aanpas by verandering. As Hoofmeisie van BVHS, is my doelwitte tydens my diensjaar is om eenheid in ons skool te bou en behou. Ek moet geleenthede vir elke kind op alle vlakke skep en seker maak dat almal deel van ons familie voel.
‘n Groot uitdaging wat ek ervaar het as leerder van BVHS, was om te leer hoe om verskillende mense in verskillende situasies te benader. Ook hoe om te reageer en wat om te doen. Nog ‘n uitdaging vir my was om te aanvaar dat ek groot word. Ek moet onafhanklik besluite begin neem.
Wat vir my die meeste by ons skool uitstaan, is ons trots en tradisie en die respek wat ons vir mekaar en vir Voortrekker het. Baie van die tradisies kom al ‘n lang pad aangesien die skool hierdie jaar 120 jaar oud geword het. Nog ‘n ding wat vir my uitstaan is verseker ons gees.
Inspirasie
Ek sien op na my oupa vir inspirasie en mentorskap. My oupa is die nederigste mens wie ek ken. Ek het hom nog nooit kwaad gesien nie. Hy gee altyd goeie raad. Hy het ‘n groot omgee hart.
As ek ‘n kombuis-artikel moes wees, sou ek ‘n mes wees. Ek het die vermoë om iets groot in kleiner hanteerbare deeltjies op te deel en een-vir-een voltooi.
My vriende sal my beskryf as ‘n staatmaker. Ek is altyd daar as iemand my nodig het, hardwerkend en ek doen wat reg is. Ek het ‘n sterk kop wat nie maklik beïnvloed word nie. Hulle sal my beskryf as ‘n bondeltjie sonskyn, iemand wat omgee, iemand wat wys is en dat ek by my besluite hou.
Wat my motiveer om my ideale te bereik, is defenitief die gevoel van sukses. Om te bereik waarvoor jy gewerk het of om te sien hoe dinge bymekaarkom, is een van die beste belonings wat ek al ervaar het.
As Hoofmeisie van BVHS sal ek sal leerders aanraai om na Bethlehem Voortrekker Hoërskool te kom omdat Voortrekker is nie net ‘n skool is nie. Dis ‘n ervaring. ‘n Ervaring wat mens nie enige plek kan kry nie. Ek sal leerders verseker aanraai om hierdie ervaring na te jaag. Die hoendervleis-oomblike wanneer ons as ‘n eenheid die kreet doen. Ook die brandende gevoel wat jy in jou hart kry wanneer jy trots voel. Bo alles om werklik deel te voel van ‘n Trekkergemeenskap wat jy verewig sal koester!
Juffrou Maritha van den Berg
Juffrou Maritha van den Berg is my gunsteling onderwyser. Sy was vanjaar my hokkie-afrigter. Sy het my met elke wedstryd gemotiveer om te speel asof dit my laaste keer is. Elke dag op die veld en in die klas inspireer sy my om ‘n beter weergawe van myself te word. Sy inspireer my met haar vriendelikheid, haar vermoë om altyd te wil help en haar motivering om beter te wees.
My toekoms-ideale is om my matriekjaar met goeie punte voltooi, gaan studeer en aanhou met sport. Ek wil graag ‘n sukses van my studierigting maak. Ek sal baie graag ook die wêreld wil sien.
Head Girl BVHS.
In our series on high schools’ lead leaders for next year, Schools That Rock talks to Shannon Purchase. Shannon, Head Girl of Bethlehem Voortrekker High School for 2023, tells us more about herself and her leadership.
“I am a farm girl with stamina, humble and very adventurous. Helping others is one of my aspirations and I see myself as a leader who can listen but also be firm and make decisions. I live life to the fullest and try to make the best of every moment. I can also adapt well to change.
My goals during my year of service are to build and maintain unity in our school. I need to create opportunities for every child at all levels and make sure everyone feels part of our family.
A big challenge I experienced as a learner of BVHS was learning how to approach different people in different situations. Also, how to react and what to do. Another challenge for me was accepting that I was growing up. I need to start making decisions independently.
My goals during my year of service are to build and maintain unity in our school. I need to create opportunities for every child at all levels and make sure everyone feels part of our family.
Big challenge
A big challenge I experienced as a learner of BVHS was learning how to approach different people in different situations. Also, how to react and what to do. Another challenge for me was accepting that I was growing up. I need to start making decisions independently.
What stands out most to me at our school is our pride and tradition and the respect we have for each other and for Voortrekker. Many of the traditions have come a long way since the school turned 120 years old this year. Another thing that stands out to me is certainly our spirit.
I look up to my grandfather for inspiration and mentorship. My grandfather is the humblest person I know. I’ve never seen him angry. He always gives good advice. He has a big caring heart.
If I had to be a kitchen article, I’d be a knife. I can break something large into smaller manageable particles and complete them one-by-one.
My friends would describe me as a Stalwart. I’m always there when someone needs me, hardworking and I do what’s right. I have a strong head that is not easily influenced. They would describe me as a bundle of sunshine, someone who cares, someone who is wise and that I stick to my decisions.
What motivates me to achieve my goals is the sense of success. Achieving what you’ve worked for or seeing things come together is one of the best rewards I’ve ever experienced.
Motivation
I would advise learners to come to Bethlehem Voortrekker High School because Voortrekker is not just a school. It’s an experience. An experience one cannot find anywhere. I would certainly advise learners to pursue this experience. The goosebumps moments when we as a unit do the crying. Also the burning feeling you get in your heart when you feel proud. Above all to truly feel part of a Trekker Community that you will cherish forever!
Ms Maritha van den Berg is my favourite teacher. She was my hockey coach this year. She motivated me with every game to play like it was my last time. Every day on the field and in class, she inspires me to become a better version of myself. She inspires me with her kindness, her ability to always want to help, and her motivation to be better.”
More school news: https://schoolsthatrock.co.za
https://www.voortrekker.co.za/
Photo supplied