If Auntie Debbie can do it, so can you.
This is the message from Deborah Ruiters, a community leader from Bonteheuwel who just finished her matric, at the age of 44.
“I was in grade 11 when I fell pregnant with my eldest son. In those days if you fell pregnant you had to leave school,” says Ruiters.
Ruiters says she always dreamt about having her own house and car.
“My life wasn’t easy after leaving school, but my dream never died. Two of my children did not finish their matric and my youngest is now in grade 10. When I got the opportunity to join night school, I jumped at it. I want to show my daugther that one can achieve anything you put your mind to,” says she says.
“When I joined I was told to take three subjects the one year and then three subjects the next. I decided to take all at once and at one stage it almost overwhelmed me. But I am glad I pushed through and finished it. Last week was my matric ball,” she says.
Obtaining her matric certificate is not last thing on her bucket list.
“I want to become a lawyer, so I think of furthering my studies. I want to tell the young people of Bonteheuwel that if Auntie Debbie can do it, so could they,” she says.
Local ward councillor, Angus McKenzie, says the community is proud of her.
