Both Alfred Shauri, the country's top best performer from Feza Boys (in Dar es Salaam) and the second best and top girl performer Cynthia Mchechu from St Francis (in Mbeya), attributed their success to studying hard, determination and praying.
Alfred has positive things to say about social media which is the most modern way of communicating and meeting new friends but warns against spending too much time on them.
He said there is a lot of things that can be learned from new technologies stressing that developing countries should accept the positive changes brought about by the developments as the new medium of communication. He adds: "The only problem is the time invested in social media. Communication gadgets have a lot of things that can build or destroy anyone.
It is true that spending more time on social media will impact negatively on academic pursuits. I use them to learn and communicate with friends, but I don't spend much time on them," he explained. He added: "I am in boarding school but when I go home I see how youths get engrossed in social media, often spending too much time chatting to an extent that they do not interact with people or go out with friends. This is the drawback in social media otherwise it is a good tool for communication."
On romantic relationships, Alfred says they can only interfere with studies if the students in question lose focus on their academic priorities. "I know male students who have girlfriends and they did very well in these exams getting division 1. One needs to set their priorities and focus on them.
But if one dedicates all his or her time on the relationship, then they will surely lose out in education," he explains, adding that he doesn't have one. Alfred was born in Bukoba in 1998 but moved with his parents to Moshi where he enrolled at J.K. Nyerere Primary School in 2006, but later he moved to Dar es Salaam with his mother and other siblings when she was transferred. His father was transferred to Iringa.
He joined Mlimani Primary School and in his last year of primary education (2013), he got an opportunity to do an inter-primary exams conducted by Feza Boys Secondary School and his good performance earned him a slot at the prestigious school. "After Standard Seven national exams I was selected to join Ilboru Secondary School but I opted to join Feza Boys instead," he explained.
The third born in the family of four children attributes his success in school to hard work, prayer and determination to do better. Although he did not expect to lead countrywide, he expected to do very well in the exams.
Alfred comes from a studious family, the first born is studying at New York University, the second born sister is in Mauritius doing her first year in university and his younger sibling is in Isamilo secondary Mwanza.
Cynthia Mchechu from St Francis Girls in Mbeya region, who emerged second best and top girl performer in the country, attributes her success to studying hard and prayers since she joined Form One.
"When we joined Form One we were advised to start praying for the final exams, for both good health and the exams. So I did that and continued through to Form Four and I believe God had a hand in my passing the exams," she explains.
Cynthia was among top five students throughout '0' levels and she was sure like Alfred that she would sail through with good marks. "I knew I would pass the examination but not to this extent of being the top girl and second overall in the country, " she explained.
She added that the good relationship between students and teachers at the school also contributed to the success. Cynthia's parents played a major role in her success encouraging and prodding her to work harder whenever she got lower marks.
This increased her determination to do better. Although she was a day scholar during lower primary education, she asked her parents to take her to a boarding school and they did. "In boarding school you get more time to study.
In boarding school there is no TV, meaning more time for studying. It was my decision to go to boarding school, I asked my parents to take me to a boarding school and I am happy that they did," she added.
On social media and romantic relationships, Cynthia says there's time for everything and although she doesn't dislike the new technologies, she cautions that they can be distracting. "The problem with a lot of us youths is that we forget that we will have time to do these things in future.
Some sleep very late because of social media. The important thing is to have determination; to set priorities and work hard to achieve success, she says.
source:www.dailynews.co.tz
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