Student Talk

For most learners, and especially their parents, to further your education beyond high school is crucial. Not only does it increase your knowledge in the field you aspire to have a career in, but it also increases your chances to be employed by companies who seek for individuals with the specific qualification. The first thing learners concern themselves about, in order to guarantee acceptance at tertiary school, is their academic results. If not them, then it’s their parents who pressure them into excelling in their tests and exams, to render an exceptional academic report throughout high school, or at least from grade 10 to grade 12. I recall when I was still in high school that I had to submit my grade 11 academic report with my application – that was when I was applying at the University of Cape Town (UCT). I’m sure you can understand the pressure to excel as early as grade 8, because one would think you need to build yourself up to a certain level of academic achievement and a

When entering into the working world, especially as a student or learner who neither had been exposed to the work environment nor has a mentor to guide them, exploitation may be an inevitable thing to happen: you might accept it before you even recognise it. It’s your first time working. You have this notion that you must impress your boss, to not be problematic, because it’s your first job and you also need a positive reference for future jobs, right? But what happens in an event that you find yourself doing jobs that are not in line with your job-description or what you expected to do? What do you do? Let me give you an example: You are employed to work as a trainee accountant at a small accounting firm to become a Professional Accountant (SA). The training is for 3 years. During your first year, you’re tasked with the following, along with very few accounting jobs: Making filter coffee for the boss Answering the phone when the secretary is not around (twice a