I am a Phsc and Maths students here at Matric Academy of Excellence.I am a failure of my own ambitions. Nothing is significant about me, but the God I pray to and believe in. And nothing fills me with more meaning than the dream I chase.
I am simple and not simple minded, but still didn’t take gravity into my heart when I came here blinded by June. My mind was still crossed as I through dots with my marks.
The valuable lesson that I hadn’t learnt. I was regretting my past terms.
Then my cousin came to me like an old verse, same words, distant argue, with other couple of words. He introduced me to a speaker I had never heard through his word, only one verse captured me most.
“When you want to breathe as bad as you want to succeed, then you will be successful“.
Those words echoed through my mind. Then I thought to myself that there is nothing good that comes out of something bad, as it is one of the points Shakespeare tries to bring out in his plays. So I started with a prayer asking God to give me strength to go, to push through and to make it. Because I knew thru God everything is possible.
Then I evaluated myself and I reminded myself of Eric Thomas’s example about batman. In the final movie of Batman he faced one of his most formidable opponents. Batman was a type of guy who came on the scene and defeated everybody. The difference this time is that when he faced his opponent, the opponent stopped his punch and said: “Your victory had defeated you Batman”.
I mean I did not get it at first, but then he said “I was born in the dark, I was molded by the dark, you only adapted the dark” You see such words also spoke to me that overestimated the NSC curriculum , I believed this school has equipped me with more knowledge to strengthen my relationship ,like Holy Communion.
To you fellow students, take every opportunity as a platform to succeed as this school has been for me.
I am Sanele and I am coming from Kwazulu Natal,like our Principal.
Time runs very fast. It seems like we were just entering these gates yesterday and now the time for leaving is coming near. Soon we will be going to another stage of our lives. As we are about to leave, allow me my dear friends to bid my goodbye.
For almost 10 months of coming to this school, I have made countless memories that I’ll treasure forever. Who could ever forget the giant laughs we made on these very corners. I felt together with my friends and even the crying moments and pains I have left behind. For all the hard times I had, the tests, exams, recitations and pressures. I have to pass through these narrow paths fighting these odds that obstruct my way.
Once I knew only darkness and stillness. My life was without past or future, but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness and my heart leaped to the rapture of living. Thanks to the lessons we learnt in Student Development.
Even during the year the devil kept knocking, but God All Mighty kept me strong. The terrorist thought he would change my aims and stop and cripple my ambitions, but nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died, strength, power and courage were born, and I thank God for His mercy.
The burning brows, sleeping late at night and fighting my dear enemy, to wake up early, are only a few of my sacrifices. Sacrifices that I learnt in aiming for good grades. But the most striking moments I felt were the motherly love that our principal gave to us, some of us participating actively in class, smiling and laughing because the truest feelings we initially felt of sorrow were swept away.
I take this farewell speech as an opportunity to thank those people who in one way or another have come into my life, who made an impact in my studies and made me see how beautiful my life can be. I take pride in my friends who have stayed beside me through the days of happiness and sadness.
To the unending support of my teachers and their advice that has kept us going, I give thanks. I wish everyone the very best in their future. As much of a cliché it is, “Everything will be fine ïn the end. If it is not fine then it is not the end”.
PORTIA
Before I came to Matric Academy of Excellence I was not confident about myself and my weakest point was that I was degrading myself and feeling sorry about everything that has happened to me.
The first time I entered Matric Academy of Excellence, I learned about integrity a lot. I was introduced to Jesus, my Saviour and God for the first time in my life and now I know how wonderful He is in my life.
So many things have happened to me, good and bad things but in all I have learnt that you can rely on Him. Stop complaining ! I just want to praise God and thank Him for His wonders and miracles that He has done for me. At this school I received my own Bible and we have learned in Psalm 139 that God knew me from my birth and that He wrote my name in the book of life.
Meeting new students and different teachers have made me think differently and do things differently, such as thinking positively. The principal taught me all the basic things. She is like a mother to us and she is very kind and she always emphasizes about having integrity and believing in yourself.
I have changed a lot. There is a lot that I have learnt here and now I know that I can achieve anything because I have confidence and integrity. I have learned to be honest and to forgive people first, because the Bible says we must forgive first before God can forgive us. I am not degrading myself anymore . I feel so blessed because the word says: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
CINDY
When I came here I had negative and positive attitudes about life and people who were surrounding me. At some point I felt the world had turned its back on me. I felt like giving up, I guess every student feels that way when things don’t work out for their own good but you have to keep moving and keep your head held high.
I have learned a lot through student development. How to carry myself, how to forgive and how to meditate on the word of God daily. It has not been easy but it is worth it.
Changing as a human being is quite difficult when you want to be right all of the time. It is difficult to acknowledge your mistakes. I have to admit I am sometimes like this and I have been trying to deal with this. Everything needs time and that’s all I need. I have learned to forgive and forget and the peace that comes with this will set me free.
Trust in the Lord and don’t despair. He is a friend so true, no matter what your trials are, Jesus will see you through. And for the exams it all depends on you but from me may we all succeed and become successful
I thank you
Litaletu
Greetings to my principal, teachers and fellow students. As most of you know, my name is Litaletu Nombita and I stand before you this morning to share with you my brief journey at Matric Academy of Excellence. My journey started the same day with most of you, with new friends made and a long year ahead.
When I came to this school I wasn’t the pretty much the same person you’re seeing now because there has been a lot of detachments and replacements made. I had already been saved by the grace of God to make a difference, so I grew more as a person spiritually.
As the days went by , I realized a few things about myself, changed what I had to and built on my strong points. Matric Academy has indeed implanted some roots into my system and gave me a better perspective in life. I have leant and improve on my honesty. Integrity and diligence. I know that I will forever carry these virtues with me.
Jesus has always been a pillar of strength and I hope that most of you have learnt something about yourselves and have let go of those bad habits you arrived here with.
I would like to read you a poem that should be something you always remind yourself of whenever life decide to throw a curve ball because the choices you make today will determine your future.
What I want I am powerful Whatever I decide to be, I will be. The evidence is all around me. The power of my will has brought me precisely to where I am right now. I have made the choices, I have held the thoughts. I have taken the action to create my current reality. And I have the power to change it into whatever I want it to be. With the choices I make, I am constantly fulfilling the vision I have for my life. If that does not seem to be the case, then I am deceiving myself about what I really want. Because what I really wanted in the past, I really have. If I want to build a billion dollar business, I will take the actions necessary to do it. If I want to sit comfortably watching tv night by night,I will take the actions necessary for that. Don’t be disappointed in my results, they’re just the outward manifestation of my priorities. I will be sure of what I truly want, because I am sure to get it. In all you do, love God, Love yourself and love others.
NESIZWA
Before I came to Matric Academy of Excellence I knew nothing about God. I had given up on myself. I was lazy to study my books. I didn’t take my life seriously, everything was just a game.
After a few months I have changed. I have accepted Lord Jesus Christ into my life for the first time. I started to see that life has a meaning and I started believing in myself. I have discovered things that I never knew I had in me.
Here in Matric Academy of Excellence I have learned how to make good friends, how to study as a group and how to forgive someone else. I always think about myself but now I also think about others and feel their pain. I learned how to say thank you.
I have set new goals for myself. Goals that will build me and make a bright future for me and my family.
I have forgiven myself for being selfish. I have forgiven myself for being lazy and for blaming God for my own mistakes.
Jesus has changed me, He has helped me find my way in life. He showed me the way to success. It’s hard but needs me to be patient. Now I know if I had believed myself and had been honest and say what I want, I will have it all.
Bubele Before I came to Matric Academy of Excellence I did not know how important prayer was and I was lost spiritually, because I have never received Jesus as my Saviour before, but when I came to the Matric Academy of Excellence, I invited Jesus into my life and made Him my Lord and Saviour.
I have failed matric because I was lazy and not serious with my life, but now I know the importance of education and I have learned to be diligent when I do something. I have also learned this year to make the right decisions in what I do now. I am now a man of integrity.
I am so grateful that I came to this school.
But now after nine months I have changed. I always pray before I go to sleep and I believe that Jesus works in so many ways in my life.
Now that I know the importance of education, I have learned to be diligent when I do something.
I have decided to further my studies, because I know with Jesus by my side I can and I will achieve anything I want in life because the Bible says: I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me.
To all of you, I want to wish u the best for the exams and your further studies at university.
You will prosper because with God all things are possible.
Thank you Matric Academy of Excellence
My name is INATHI and I coming from Grahamstown
I was raised by my father and his family. My mother left us when I was a little girl. She didn’t come back, even up to now. I sometimes wonder if she knows my date of birth because she never wished me happy birthday in all these years.
When I came to Matric Academy of Excellence I had no peace in my heart. I had anger and hatred towards my mother. At this school I have learned to let go of bitterness , wrath and anger because here I have learned that the Bible says we must forgive first and all the time, before God can forgive me.
Here at the Academy I have learned to read my Bible every day and I saw that Romans 8vers 6 say: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Forgiving is my weakness, I struggle sometimes, but I decide daily to forgive my mother, because she is still my mother.
Since I came to this school I am a new person. I have peace in my heart after I have forgiven my mother. Hatred does not help me to go forward. Deep down in my heart I love my mother, I so wish that she can just phone me.
I thank God that I came to this amazing school because I found closure. I now know that the Bible command me to respect my mother so that I can enjoy a long life.
My friends I am not perfect, but I know God has touched me because I had to repent of the hatred that I had towards my mother and I know that God has forgiven me, because the Bible says that if you repent God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Mahola Nomawethu
Before I came to Matric Academy of Excellence I was very shy and dishonest. I have learned more about God and why I must pray every day. I have learned at this school that whenever I lie, I started to feel guilty because as a child of God the Holy Spirit convicted me. Then I repented of my sin and I knew God has forgiven me. The Bible says in 1 John 1:9 that whenever I repent of my sins, God is faithful and just to forgive me my sins and cleans me from all unrighteousness
Jesus changed me not to be shy and be faithful and respect others.
An important lesson I have learned is that I must be honest no matter what is happening.
I have learned how to forgive myself and everyone who betrayed me and I know that Jesus gives them a chance to be faithful.
Today I want to encourage all of you always to be honest with yourself.
Siyasanga
Before I came to this school, I was both emotionally and physically wrecked. I have been carrying this heavy load for these past few years and never knew I can give it to the Allmighty. I was robbed of my happiness but I never showed it to the world, but just smiled and said it is well with my souls.
When I came to this school, I learned that I can changed it all. I have changed. My faith towards my God became stronger than ever. I just kept on praising Him in every way that was possible.
What I have learned was that I have to cherish what I have because I was poor before, I was hungry before. I had this glorified life of mine . I learnt that people will not care of how I made it, but the fact that I also learned that the only friend one has and would always be there was Jesus and is the Master of all things.