I don’t quite know where to begin. What seems like leaving Kloof High ages ago, 13 years this year, also seems like just yesterday.
KHS provided me with so many opportunities and the educators, sports coaches, administrative staff and principal really encouraged me to seize all the moments I could. I was an A student, but this required hard work. The educators never worked on the assumption that because you were in the A-class, you didn’t need extra help. They were often willing to provide additional explanations or extra lessons. I was the girl of questions and have fond memories of Mr. Evans calling me Rubik’s cube because I couldn’t grasp something and Mr Juggernath recommending I don’t take Physical Sciences because I just couldn’t get my head around the logic of some things. I matriculated as a young lady of 17 years old. From experiences and interactions at school, I decided to go overseas as a Rotary Exchange Student. I was so over-enthused about what to study and had 7 possible career pathways and taking a gap year was not in my nature. I was accepted as an exchange student to Belgium. Taking French as a subject at school until matric was very influential because I wanted to expand and improve my French. It was KHS that helped me discover my love for the language. My time in Belgium was nothing short of amazingly fantastic! I performed a 13th year of high school, was able to travel to over 10 countries in Europe, and experienced a multicultural experience of note, interacting with over 190 other exchange students. During the year I also experienced many hardships, but my personality and life lessons whilst a teen (and at KHS) managed to get me through this. I was awarded the title of Ambassador for the province of Liege, Belgium, and also was awarded the Outstanding Rotary Exchange Student Award.
After 50 weeks abroad, I came back to Durban for two weeks and then left for Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape. Still unsure what to study, my father told me that time was up. My passion for learning (which I learned through the effort and passion of my educators) continued and after exploring numerous possible lectures, I decided to complete my Bachelor of Social Sciences majoring in Psychology and French. I immediately fell in love with Psychology and the other 7 dreams fell out of the window. The balancing act of academics and sport at KHS massively assisted in balancing academics and student, partying life. But I did so successfully. I worked extremely hard at University and was awarded numerous academic prizes during my 3-year degree. I was also Subwarden of the residence I stayed in my 3rd year at Rhodes. Family and school values were instrumental in many of my decisions and choices. During my degree, when returning to Durban, I waitressed and taught at a preschool part-time. I then completed my Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours degree in Psychology at Rhodes. I lived with a very close friend and this year taught me considerably about ‘adulting’. The year flew by and again I was awarded an academic award in research.
I then returned to Durban for good and commenced with 3 part-time jobs. I used this year to ‘recover’ and earn some money. But this wasn’t the end of my tertiary education and in 2013, I was selected as one of 4 in the country to receive a full scholarship from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to commence with my Bachelor of Arts Honours in Interpreting and Translation at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2014. This was a part-time course and so I commenced with my first professional employment in recruitment. At the end of 2015, I completed my BA Honours but decided that recruitment wasn’t for me. Consequently, I decided to commence with my Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Intermediate and Senior Phase through UNISA. While starting my PGCE, I also started a new journey at a primary school as a school counsellor as well as a teaching intern. This was an incredible year and I learned so much about myself. It reiterated my love for children and my passion for helping and developing others, and so I took the plunge to apply again for my Masters in Psychology (I had previously not been accepted in 2012). I went through some grueling interviews but was accepted and my life changed forever. For those who are unaware, being accepted into Psychology Masters is a dream for many, as each university only accepts about 6 people for educational psychology. I stopped everything, including my job and my part-time studies, and went back to being a full-time student.
I moved up to Pietermaritzburg for the year and commenced my year at UKZN. This was a very tough year academically and practically but I succeeded. I then moved back to the Upper Highway and commenced my internship at a local primary school. This year reaffirmed my decision to drop everything to pursue my dream. I absolutely love my job and could not think of doing anything else. I extended my internship into 2019 and continued at primary school and a local high school. Board exams, which represent the final daunting challenge to overcome to call myself a professional, were passed successfully with flying colours! I was finally qualified as an Educational Psychologist. Since starting school at the age of 5, I have completed about 14 years of education.
The decision about where to work then had to be made. There was an opportunity at Kloof High, and I can now proudly say that I have come full circle in my KHS journey and am now back. To be honest, it feels like I never left. I work part-time for the school and run my private practice from the school as an Educational Psychologist. But my personality of succeeding, achieving, and improving myself meant that I could not have an incomplete degree. I am now working on growing my private practice, which started 7 weeks prior to lockdown and am also completing my PGCE. Then I think studying will be put on hold for a little. It is strange being back, seeing some of the teachers that taught me all those many years ago, and now interacting with them in the staff room. But I can tell you one thing, these people have remained the most honest, dedicated, and down-to-earth educators ever and I am so proud to be able to interact with them again. The passion, love, laughter, and ‘humanness’ they bring to work daily is amazing. KHS staff are a team and support each other. I am proud to be a part of this team and to see myself as being back home.
Romantically, I have also come full circle. I am recently engaged to a man who I schooled with at KHS. We have known each other since starting grade 8 and I could call us post-high school sweethearts. I see the values that KHS taught him as well and it reaffirms the awesome school KHS is. So, I guess I really have kept KHS as a part of my family.
My life may not be as exciting as yours, but I have achieved immensely and have got to where I want to be. Yes, it has taken longer than expected, but God had a journey for me and I can say that I feel blessed to have been on this journey I call my life. In short, since leaving Kloof High, I’ve traveled a little, studied a lot, but am finally pursuing my career of choice and my passion. KHS allowed me to meet my fiancé as well! My time at KHS can be described as memorable. It taught me so many skills and values and so much knowledge. My determination comes from my time at KHS where my educators positively pushed me and encouraged me to achieve and follow my dreams. The grit and ‘toughness’ assisted me greatly. All of these experiences, which have made my life start a lot later than expected have molded me into who I am today. These experiences had bumps, bruises, and heartbreaks along the way, but in the process have allowed me to become who I am.
So, thank you KHS for all that you did for me as a student! I’m truly blessed to now be working with some of my educators and am so excited to give back to ‘my family’. Thank you for holding a part in my heart.
My advice to the Class of 2020:
- You may not be like me and study this extensively, but remember to follow your heart and grab your passions.
- Don’t give up on your dreams.
- 5 years fly by, so make every moment out of your time at high school.
- COVID-19 has made your schooling career somewhat different and highly historical. So take even more opportunity if possible because your time is even shorter.
Jounelle Gibson
Class of 2007
