Eastern Mosaic presenter Candice Moodley recalls her convent school days
Where did you go to school and study?
I attended Parktown Convent until grade two and McCauley House Convent from standard one until matric. I have a BA LLB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Who was your favourite teacher?
My favourite teacher was Ms Zoghby, my physical education teacher. I was always more a “jock” than an academic. Ms Zoghby encouraged my sporting talents and as a result I made the tennis, squash and netball team every year throughout my entire schooling career – and I loved it.
What were your favourite subjects?
I enjoyed mathematics, but not geometry, and I also enjoyed history.
What advice do you have for learners?
Learners should choose a career that will make them happy. They should follow their hearts as they will easily make a success of themselves if they’re doing what makes them happy as opposed to doing what makes others happy.
Share an embarrassing memory.
I can recall a time when a friend and I had a crush on an American television actor and we would write notes to each other about him. One of these notes found its way onto the floor and into the hands of the older girls. Like fools we had signed our names at the bottom of the notes and the following day the entire school knew of our crush. Everyone ridiculed us.
What did you dislike about school?
I hated the fact that school started at 7.45am and am still making up for lost sleep from my school days. Don’t try and get me up early unless there is a very good reason for it.
Were you a role model at school?
I suppose towards my later years at school I was a kind of role model for younger scholars because I was a KTV presenter. The KTV image was one of a good kid who did well at school and who had a good attitude towards life.
Any advice for learners of today?
There are many temptations for learners and peer pressure plays a huge role. Pupils should stand up to kids who say drugs are cool and that having sex is cool. Choices have to be made but they should be educated about drugs and sex before making a choice they might regret. Knowledge is power – learn as much as possible because you need an education before anyone will take you seriously.
– The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg,December 2001.