On the day the matric results were released, Noluvuyo Shwempe squealed as she was practically charged head-on by a woman outside her school. And as they continued to hug, and tried to talk without getting choked up, the affection between then was so evident, they could have been mother and daughter.
On the day the matric results were released, Noluvuyo Shwempe squealed as she was practically charged head-on by a woman outside her school. And as they continued to hug, and tried to talk without getting choked up, the affection between then was so evident, they could have been mother and daughter.
Instead, it was Noluvoyo's Accounting teacher, Zoreja Boma, who, like most teachers at Nombulelo High School, took Noluvuyo's excellent matric results personally. Her top marks were 90% in Physical Science, 86% in Mathematics, and 85% in Dance Studies.
Throughout her school career Noluvuyo pondered many careers, and at first her dream job was to be an accountant. “But when I was in grade 12 I decided to do a BSc because I just loved Chemistry.” For a time she also considered studying Medicine, “but then my mom didn’t want me to go to UCT. She doesn’t want me to be far.”
Instead, Noluvuyo is going to embark on a Bachelor of Science degree at Rhodes University this year – and she's got mixed feelings about leaving the family-like environment of her school. “Well… I’m happy, excited, and scared at the same time because I have to grow up now and go to varsity. All my teachers knew me in high school and I feel like no one’s gonna know me [at Rhodes].”
But Noluvuyo also admitted that she makes friends easily, because she talks a lot. She beamed with enthusiasm when the topic of dancing was brought up, “I’ve been dancing for about eight years now, I love it so much. Contemporary and modern are my favourites – I’ve been doing modern the longest.”
She grew up in Fingo and now lives in Joza, the eldest of three. Younger brother Ouvuio will be starting Grade 8 at Nombulelo this year. Noluvuyo has left big shoes for him to fill, but she says she's asked her teachers to look out for him and make sure he also does well.
And littlest brother Outhango will be following close on his heels. Noluvuyo's role models are her mom, Nokuzon Shwempe, whom she describes as “a strong woman”, Nelson Mandela, and her dancing teacher, Janet Buckland. “She’s always been my role model, gosh, ‘cause she’s always been in my life like since when I was 9.”
While she won’t be studying dance again this year, Noluvuyo doesn’t intend to stop entirely. “I’m still gonna dance with Mama J,” she said. Did she know what she wanted to do after her degree? “No, not yet. I’ll decide what I’m going to do in my second or third year.”
Whether she is dancing her way to the top, or working behind the scenes in a laboratory, Noluvuyo's bright smile, intelligence and diligence will undoubtedly bring her success and continue to win her friends wherever she goes.
