FROM day one, he knew that “this humble child from Zimdahl Street in Gelvandale would be a major force to be reckoned with at Linkside High School.”
These are the words of Antonio Lawack, the class teacher of the school’s top achiever for the past five years, Nezaan Swartz.
Since 17-year-old Nezaan started Grade 8 in 2018, she has been in the first position in the grade every single term, continuing this streak of excellence all the way to Grade 12.
The future doctor, who has been accepted to study medicine at Nelson Mandela University next year, is also the current deputy head girl at the school.
“I met Nezaan in January 2018. At first glance, she seemed polite and quietly confident with a self-assured demeanour. Little did I know that she would excel beyond my wildest expectations.
“She received a head leader bursary from day one. Thereafter, her loving parents, Chris and Rocshaan Swartz, would every December receive a bursary letter stating that Nezaan’s school fees for the following year would be R0.
“Every time I put that letter into her envelope I shook my head because of how unreal it seems on paper. Yes, Nezaan has been at the top of the grade for every single term here at Linkside, all 24 of them,” an extremely proud Lawack explained.
“Since the onset it was quite clear that she literally excels at whatever she puts her hand at.
“She achieved her provincial colours for karate, has served as teammate, committee member, RCL representative, class captain, prefect and deputy head girl with the greatest dedication and commitment,” he said.
What makes Nezaan’s achievement even more special is the fact that she is only the third person at the school to have achieved this in recent years.
Deputy Principal, Antoinette Roulstone, said that the last people to achieve this were Tristan Strydom in 2015 and Carla Michaels in 2020.
Nezaan’s Afrikaans teacher, Xanthe Ferreira, described her as “a well-rounded, top-tier teenager.”
“She, without fail, in every test, examination and task, scored the highest in the grade and in my Afrikaans class. She helped others to study outside exam venues and wrote the most beautiful Afrikaans essays in which she relayed her love for her family, her mother and God.”
Her English teacher, Rialette Scheltema, added that Nezaan was the Toastmasters’ best speaker last year because she is excellent in public speaking.
“She works hard and diligently, comes to class prepared, asks thoughtful questions and knows that to do well in languages, you have to study and practice!”
Nezaan’s mother said that as parents, there probably aren’t any words to describe how proud they are of their daughter.
“She does all the hard work and we are only there to support her. We have given her entirely what she deserves, and she has shown us and our community that her situation is not determining her future.
“To see what she has achieved spiritually and academically, as well as in her extra murals, feels like we are really doing our job as parents. There is a lot of respect and trust between us; yes I do scold, I do get mad at her – but she never disappoints us.
Nezaan said that besides God, there is no secret to her achievements.
“It takes a lot of time and effort to get this far, if I’m being honest.
“It really does take a lot of dedication and sacrifices but with this being said, I do believe I still live a very balanced lifestyle and enjoy my teenage years.
“My parents are really supportive and understanding to whatever results I produce and I always feel as if I can never actually repay them for all they do for me; that’s why I always try my best to make them proud – as a little ‘thank you’ gift to them too,” she said.
Her advice to next year’s matrics is to try their best to focus and remain interactive in class but above all to understand because when you understand that’s how you remember.
“Keep God first and I can promise you the battle is already yours.”
Grade head, Alet Swarts, quoted the school’s slogan, “Ad Astra” and said that Nezaan has proven that you can do anything by reaching for the stars and not giving up on your way up.
