The Old Diocesan Issue 12 - Magazine - Page 19
SCHOOL NEWS
Physical Sciences stood out as a
test of “your intuition of the world,
your willingness to engage with the
world, and your personal resilience”.
Matthew’s passion lies in maths.
“It is difficult to explain what
makes maths so special,” he
says. “The elegance of using
your knowledge from different
branches of maths to derive
a solution to an integral is
something I find satisfying.”
Their most memorable moments
at Bishops came in very different
settings. For Grant, a pivotal
experience occurred in Grade 11,
when he found himself deciding
between two possible futures: art,
and science. The decision became
clearer during the Across the Alps
Science Tour to Italy, Switzerland
and France. Visiting both the
artistic splendour of Vatican City
and the scientific frontiers of CERN
broadened his horizons. “I felt my
prospects had been widened to
the greatest possible degree,” he
says. In the end, he chose science.
Matthew’s standout memories
come from the social side of school
life, with the matric dances among
the highlights of the year. “Seeing
everyone dressed up, letting loose
and dancing – I will never forget it.”
The Bishops dance stood out in
particular, with decorations that
were “almost as mind-blowing
as Mr Nzuza’s dance moves”.
Both students credit influential
teachers for shaping their interests.
For Grant, it was Lizelle Swanepoel:
“Some educators not only personify
the subjects they teach, but can
also define the way their students
see the world.” Her passion helped
nurture the curiosity that now
drives his academic ambitions.
Matthew points to economics
teacher Campbell Smith, whose
engaging lessons sparked his
interest in the subject. “Our classes
were full of jokes and light-hearted
moments,” he says, recalling
a classroom atmosphere that
mixed learning with humour.
Grant and Matthew are both
currently studying at Stellenbosch
University. Grant is pursuing a BSc
in physics, focusing on laser physics
while also taking maths, chemistry
and statistics. Matthew has begun
a BSc in maths, and has applied
to universities in the US.
Looking ahead, Grant hopes
to contribute to South Africa’s
growing role in global science,
through projects such as the
Square Kilometre Array. “I want
to contribute to showcasing the
country’s potential in STEMrelated fields,” he says.
For Matthew, a maths PhD
remains a strong possibility –
though, as he puts it, he is “very
open to wherever life takes me”.
