Volume 50 Issue 5 - May 2012 : Social

 

 

Tsaone’s biggest dream is to become a doctor and make a difference in people’s lives especially those from poor backgrounds like his.  Although his childhood was sort of a rollercoaster, he says such has made him to realise that it is not what happens to one that matters most but how they deal with it.

 

“I never forget the day my brother could not proceed to senior secondary school just because my parents could not afford to pay for his uniform, notwithstanding the fact that he had passed his Junior Certificate examinations,” he recalls with apparent pain in his heart.

Tsaone says the experience contributed immensely to who he is today – a determined individual who would like to shape his own destiny instead of being a shadow of his parents. Today, Tsaone’s heart breaks as he watches his brother sweat mending people’s fences and thatching their houses.  He reckons that were it not for lack of parental support, his brother would not be doing such menial jobs.

Therefore, that nowadays some parents are not only paying for their children’s school fees, transport and school uniforms but also help with their homework and sponsor sheets, among other school activities, Tsaone is determined to take the bull by the horns. Coming from a poor family background does not discourage the Lotsane student from surging ahead to realise his dreams. Thus, he is not only making a mark locally but internationally as well with his brains.

Recently, the teenager returned from London where he was lucky to be among few selected students from across the globe who had the opportunity to dine with the Queen of England during celebrations marking her 60 years as head of the Commonwealth as well as the Commonwealth Diamond Jubilee.

Narrating his life, short though it is, Tsaone says unlike in other families whereby children have had the opportunity to pass through nursery or pre-schools, he only learnt how to write and read his name when he was already at Mabeleapodi Primary School. Since both his parents, Gagonkgope and Baraedi Gadise, were illiterate and poor, they could not afford to pay for pre-school education, particularly because it is expensive since such are private institutions, he says.

His school work is his responsibility and, therefore, he ensures that he grasps everything that his teacher imparts in class to be able to apply it during his homeworks. Such has made him to be always attentive and mentally alert,  reckons Tsaone. “Illiteracy in my family motivated me to become one of the best students, and I enjoy getting top marks in any work that I am given,” he says, adding that he is gearing up for best points to ensure that he finds his way into a medical school.

The Lotsane student is the last in a family of eight children, and the second only child likely to acquire tertiary education. The only other sibling to have entered tertiary school is his sister who is studying accounts at GIPs.  Otherwise, he says the rest of his siblings do odd jobs because they have very little education.

 “Most of my siblings were doing fine at school but the environment we were brought up in was not conducive to learning,” he says, adding that for instance, there was no electricity; neither was there enough paraffin for them to read at night. Tsaone says: “It is these hardships that have kept me going.” With his motto: Do not blame your background when your back is on the ground, the dream of becoming a doctor is not far fetched, it would appear.

However, he says the family’s livelihood improved after one of the siblings got a government job as a driver.  “He has been selfless in fending for the family,” he says. Now the teenager, who was visiting England for the first time in his life, says through the trip, he got to understand the essence of the Commonwealth values. A member of the Kingdom Embassy Church, Tsaone is confident that he is his family’s future redeemer. In particular, he says his aim is to improve his parents’ background.

“Sometimes when I share the story of my life with other students they think I am lying or exaggerating,” he says. He says he has suffered enough. Therefore, he would not want to jeopardise his chances of living a decent life hence he is studying hard at school. Although the Ministry of Education and Skills Development officials gave him some pocket money for the London trip, he decided not to spend it.

“Since my parents are struggling I decided to keep the money and pay for textbooks that I have lost. If I don’t pay I might not be able to obtain my certificate at the end, which I will need to apply to tertiary institutions."

Tsaone’s mother also attests to her son’s independence as compared to most of his age mates. “This child has not allowed our condition to discourage him. I was not surprised when he obtained  grade ‘A’ for PSLE and a merit at JC and I am expecting more with his BGCSE,” points out the proud mother. She says Tsaone has always been passionate about his school work from primary school to date.

The teenager’s parents are not entirely illiterate though. “We got tired of people reading our letters and resolved to enrol for Thuto Ga e Golelwe (Non-Formal Education) some years back. It was also with our children’s encouragement that we did so, and now we can read and write,” says the clearly hopeful mother.

Her enthusiasm about her son echoes American businessman and investor, Conrad Hilton's words, that achievements seem to be connected with action. According to Hilton, successful men and women keep moving, they make mistakes but do not quit. “Tsaone has kept us well known in all the schools he has attended only through his intelligence and excellence, which indicates that determination and dedication are one’s shield,” quips the youngman’s mother.

Lotsane Senior Secondary School’s arts and design teacher, Albertinah Milton, says when the school received an invitation from the British Council that wanted them to identify a student for the London trip, they immediately thought of Tsaone because he was the best student academically for the past year.

She says it is their wish to be able to reward committed students. Milton says Lotsane’s involvement in the Global School Programme (GSP) with a Scottish school has not only created opportunities for them but has also exposed their students to cultures and curricula of other nations.

“He was the flag bearer at the ceremony and he also met with the Queen and other students from different countries,” says the arts teacher. Milton describes Tsaone as a reserved and focused student who is not easily influenced or distracted. “It is him, his books and the Bible that matter to him most".

He has proved that excellence is not about where you come from and “we are confident that he will pull through to study medicine as he wishes,” remarks his school teacher. Definitely the name Tsaone Gagonkgope will be among those to search for, once the BGCSE results are released, because he is undoubtedly a force to reckon with.

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