After months of waiting Boiketlo Lamula (17) a pupil at Sedaven High School in Heidelberg has been announced as part of the five matric pupils who won the matric in Antarctica competition. The Deputy-Minister of Basic Education Dr Reginah Mhaule announced the winners on Monday. Lamula and the other four winners will be going on a trip to Antarctica for five days with some of South Africa’s best scientists.
Lamula said she heard about the competition through google advertisements. “One day when I was busy browsing through my recent news feed on google the advertisement popped talking about the trip and when I checked I qualified to take part, I then did more research on it,” said Lamula. She said she enjoyed every moment of the competition although it was not easy. “I enjoyed every moment of this competition from the moment I saw the advertisement, I was immediately excited,” she said.
Lamula said one of her highlights of the competition is when she was waiting for the announcement of the top 100. “I remember how nervous I was a few hours before the announcement of top 100 I was nervous and even praying so hard to a point where I ended up falling asleep, I was woken up by a notification to say that I made it to the top 100, I was so excited,” she said.
She said she is grateful for the support she received from those around her. “My family and my school have been my greatest supporters to whom I want to say their support has reached my heart and I am inspired to continue being passionate about life and pursuing my purpose,” said Lamula.
Lamula has already started preparing for the trip. “The preparations that I am doing now are to learn more about Antarctic so that I am aware of the place I will be going to,” she said
She said this trip will have a great impact on her life and she cannot wait to come back and tell others about her experience.
The winners will head to Cape Town for a Covid-19 isolation period, after that on 27 January the winners and the scientists team will head to the Antarctica Logistics Centre International.
