The Sunday News
Nozibelo Maphosa, Sunday News Reporter
FOR 19-year-old Thubelihle Tshuma, attaining good Advanced Level results was always part of her dream since she was a young girl. And last week, that dream came true when the Zimsec 2016 A-level results were released.
She aced 20 points, after she scored As in Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Accounting after sitting for her examinations at Goromonzi High in Goromonzi District, Mashonaland East Province. At O-level, Thubelihle got 9As and a B, making her the best female pupil at the school.
“I had sleepless nights trying to read and study to achieve these grades, it was never easy but fortune favours the brave,” she said.
Thubelihle was also part of the Under-18 National Rugby team hence because of the pressure to balance sport and education, she was doing only three subjects in Lower Six.
“In Lower Six, I only did three subjects because I spent my time travelling out of the country with the team since I was the captain. Then in Upper Six, I added Accounting into the trolley because I figured competition is stiff so I had to do at least four subjects to maximise my chances out there,” said Thubelihle.
However, her hopes of furthering her education at one of the country’s universities are under threat unless she gets funding.
Her parents have indicated that they do not have the money for her to go to university.
“My father was retrenched when I was doing Lower Six. Since then it has always been a struggle, luckily my uncle, Dr Admore Tshuma, an academic who is based in the UK chipped in and paid for my fees. I have a dream of being a gynaecologist because I have realised that we have only a few female gynaecologists and besides medicine has always been my passion. I am also an aspiring entrepreneur who hopes to build a charity hospital one day. I would really appreciate anyone who can help me in pursuing my dream as I need a university education to live to my full potential,” she said.
Thubelihle said she was hoping to get a scholarship and proceed to university in August and continue playing rugby as well.
“If I am lucky enough to get a scholarship, I wish to enrol at university in August and continue playing rugby because it has always been my passion,” said Thubelihle.
She said her history which is very humble has been a contributing factor in pushing her to do more.
“I can’t really say anyone inspired me because in my family there is no intellect background except for my uncle who is in the UK, who happens to be the first doctor in our family. The kind of life I have lived inspired me, life taught me to push hard, I work hard because I want to change the life my family and I lead. At the moment my unemployed father and stepmother are struggling to make ends meet,” she said.
Thubelihle said there were some parents who think sport affect performances of their children at school but she disagrees.
“To parents, sports does not interfere with studies. I am a living testimony to that. Whether you are doing sport or not what is important is to study hard. This is the solution to good results.”
