Mogapi is Setlalekgosi's brightest student
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Friday February 1, 2019 13:51
Setlalekgosi JSS emerged the best performing school after scooping first position regionally with a pass rate of 72.8% and placed fourth nationally. Mogapi bagged seven As and two Bs, giving him an overall grade of an A and an opportunity to be amongst the top 10 best students in north-east region.
Mogapi told Mmegi that the secret to achieving success was through hard work, perseverance, determination and self-discipline.
He added that he also made concerted effort to stay focused and not be stressed during his examination preparation period.
The brilliant student said that his mother and colleagues always complained that he was studying too hard. “My classmates teased me saying that my brain would explode due to overstudying. But, I chose to invest in my education by putting in long hours and taking breaks when needed to make my brain cooperative,” he said.
He said that a National Geographic popular science television series ‘Brain Games’ instilled the love for learning in him. Brain Games is a television show that explores cognitive science by focusing on illusions, psychological experiments, and counterintuitive thinking.
Mogapi narrated that back in 2017 while doing Form 2, he caught one of the episodes from the Brain Games series in which they were researching about natural talents, which got him thinking. This triggered a new study idea.
“The show made me notice that I am academically gifted, but for me to be successful, I needed to push extra hard. I then came up with an initiative of extended study, where I remained alone in the classroom after school,” he said.
The young man added that during the extended study period he would review all the subjects that he did so that he could be able to understand them better. He said that reading to understand was a powerful tool to excelling in one’s studies than cramming. Mogapi criticised cramming, which is practised by some students, indicating that it can make one undergo a high level of anxiety and the information that the student studied would only be remembered momentarily.
“Cramming is very tricky because during exams one might second-guess their answers or totally forget about what he or she reviewed on different topics,” he said. The outspoken young man gave thanks to his former class teacher, Lawrence Sebotse and his mother Naiko Mogapi who gave him support by providing revision materials and motivational talks.
He further said that his mother also assisted in bettering his results by allowing him to use his phone as part of revision.
“My phone saved me during examination preparations period. A phone gives children a chance to access both good and bad things. When one is self-disciplined they would be able to use it appropriately,” he said.
He added that he managed to download about 72 applications, which gave him access to revision materials. Mogapi said that he conducted research, collected soft copy notes using his phone, which was reliable and convenient.
The 15-year-old quoted Serbian-American inventor, futurist, electrical and mechanical engineer Nikola Tesla: “Different behaviour in the world full of conformity is the best behaviour one can have”.
He said that ever since he came across Tesla’s quote, he took a resolution to be different and selective when it comes to choosing friends as a way of paving for a brighter future.
He said that he chose to have a few friends who are goal-oriented, with direction and understood their purpose in life. He also said that he avoided and did not tolerate distractive friends because they could have hindered his chance to pass.
The wanna-be astronomer extended great gratitude to Setlalekgosi leadership that provided mentorship to all the Form 3 students and gave them a healthier school environment.
He said that the school introduced Saturday study, which helped them concentrate on their studies. The intelligent young man stated that former Setlalekgosi JSS student, Tom Tsholofelo, who emerged victorious as one of the top 10 students nationally in the 2017 JCE final results inspired him. Mogapi also gave credit to Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) for the values and believes they instilled in him.
“Going to church was very helpful because it teaches you to believe and if you believe in something it shall be a success,” he said.
He shared that he was disappointed after getting a B in Commerce and Accounting, which he had expected to get an A in, and symbol still haunts him to this day keeping him up at nights wondering what went wrong.
He said that as for the B he got for Setswana, it was a great improvement because he managed to reach his target. He urged students who will be sitting for their JCE this year to work extra hard on their schoolwork, know their purpose in life and avoid cramming at all costs. The clever young man said that cramming is seeking a chance to fail during examinations. Mogapi’s mother, Naiko was all smiles and could not hide her gleeful mood.
She said that Mogapi was hungry to learn and worked consistently on his studies. “My boy has never disappointed me. He has been a hard worker ever since his early childhood days. He attained grade A at Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). I must say I am a proud parent and I will give all glory to God,” she said.
Naiko, who is a teacher by profession, added that her son’s hard work, self-discipline, determination and sacrifice have finally paid off.
She said that she used to complain when her child studied too hard, but it all worked out.
She also encouraged Mogapi to rest so that he remains healthy and focused at all times. Mogapi’s mother said that when her child was preparing for his Form 3 finals he was excused from doing household chores and spent most of his time studying. She said she supported Mogapi emotionally and financially during school projects, homework and tours so that he had nothing to worry about except concentrating on his schoolwork.
Naiko said that she was involved in her child’s education so that he could treat education as a priority in life for a better future. The Setlalekgosi JSS Legend House head of department (HOD) Ernie Phoko shared Naiko’s sentiment.
She said that Mogapi was a hardworking, determined, focused and disciplined young man.
Phoko said that Mogapi has made the whole school proud and his results will motivate 2019 Form 3 students during their preparations for their JCE.
She also described Mogapi as a self-driven and open-minded student, who led by example at all times. “Mogapi was an academic jack-of-all-trade and shared the precious knowledge he had with both the teachers and colleagues,” he said. She gave thanks to Mogapi’s mother for her cooperation and unending support she offered both to the school and his son’s academic work.