Garon Van der Merwe’s advice to Jeppe boys who want to achieve academic success is to achieve a balance, but to always keep your schoolwork your priority. “It’s very important that you enjoy everything that Jeppe has to offer,” he said, “but you must never allow things to run away from you.”
It’s an approach that saw him achieve seven distinctions in the 2023 matric exams, while at the same time being the head of Oribi House, earning full colours for Athletics and participating in a range of other activities, for the enjoyment of them. “I was just happy to be there and to use the opportunities that came my way.”
Being the head of a hostel was challenging, he said. “I learnt a lot about organisation, and about relationships, and that will serve me well in the future.”
And his immediate future lies in Stellenbosch where he will be studying Actuarial Science. “I come from an Afrikaner family, so I want to experience that side of my life now. I love the Winelands and I’m excited to be going to live there,” he said.
