Dristhi Ramsumer received an honours blazer at Crawford International North Coast.
Image: Supplied
MATRIC pupil Dristhi Ramsumer achieved the prestigious honours blazer at Crawford International North Coast, demonstrating excellence in academics, culture, and community service.
From violin virtuoso to mathematics champion, discover how determination and balanced pursuits led to this remarkable achievement.
Dristhi obtained the blazer after achieving full colours for academics, service and culture.
She said she had set her sights on the blazer from Grade 7.
By Grade 8, her determination led her to balance her academic pursuits with service and cultural activities.
The school highlighted that throughout her schooling career, Dristhi had always excelled academically, placing first with distinction averages every year.
She also participated in the mathematics, English and Afrikaans Olympiads.
Recently she participated in the third round of the SAMO Mathematics Olympiad and was placed in the top 20 provincially.
Dristhi's cultural colours came from her passion for music. She has played the violin since the age of 8 and has been a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Orchestra (KZNYO). Dristhi is currently at Grade 7 level in violin. She has also excelled in dance and drama, showcasing her skills in the Crawford's Got Talent, the spotlight dance show and the school’s drama evenings.
Her active participation in the National Eisteddfod and Talent Africa for dance, drama and music earned her provincial colours for the performing arts.
For her community service, Dristhi has given back to community through her volunteer work at the Sahara Women and Children's Shelter in Phoenix.
Dristhi said she put in a lot of hard work but also owed her success to her mum.
“A lot of time and effort went into achieving this recognition and it required dedication to achieve each of the criteria. I needed to deliver consistently over three years and I put myself under a lot of stress but it was 100% worth it. In Grade 7, I saw a pupil wearing the blazer and asked – how do I do this?’
“I am so proud of myself. This has been my goal from day one at this school and I really am ecstatic to have achieved this. My mum's dedication, strength, and belief in me has also inspired me to always strive for my best. She's the person I most aspire to be like and without her, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
Her advice is to always try your best.
“Don’t be daunted in the beginning. You have to break it down and take a baby steps approach. Also, don’t do this for anyone else but yourself. Self-motivation, determination and grit is the key,” said Dristhi.