Story by ZBC Reporter
A former Chisipite Senior School head girl, Mufaro Agness Zhou is set to receive the internationally-recognised educational award for her outstanding performance.
Zhou who has always been a whizkid will be honoured at an event on May 24 with a High Achievement for Global Perspectives and Research award in Harare.
“Getting the award just feels like the cherry on top of having the opportunity to speak my mind and write it too Because most of the awards are from essay-based subjects or public speaking of some kind,” she said.
“The fact that I have come such a long way to be able to put down on paper exactly what I think or speak in a room full of people was originally the goal, because I was doing it for myself and the awards just meant someone out there also saw the work I knew I put in.
“The one on the road is probably one of the most exciting ones though because it confirms that it is not just within the walls of my high school that I can do this, I could even compete with people from all over the world.”
Zhou excelled at the competition which is run through Cambridge International examinations.
The competition provides students who are planning to progress to university with the opportunity to add breadth and depth to their studies by expanding creative, critical thinking and responsible awareness through the tackling of global issues (Global Perspectives), as well as encouraging focused personal exploration and increased depth of study in the form of a research report.
Zhou is currently doing her paperwork in preparation for her new journey as a law student at Deakin University in Australia starting in July as she aims to help people using her skills.
“I chose to study law because it encompassed all my favourite parts of school,” she said.
“I really want to help people in the best way I know how, and that is through debate, essays and research, so it was the next logical step for me to take.”
Zhou has several accolades under her belt, she was the head of debate, she got the Service Award, Lower Six English Award, Lower six best overall humanities student award, Upper six history award, Upper six best overall humanities award, Full Academic Colours for form four and lower six, Full drama colours, Drama award for best musical performance, Trophy for upper six students who has contributed the most to school life
Best overall mooter at the University of Dundee African Schools mooting competition and the Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa award for the student who most embodies the school ethos to be “brave and strong and true”
Her advice for learners is to follow their passion.
“Do not chase a grade or an award, of course, those things can be motivation, but the goal should be to become more knowledgeable in the subjects that you love and to honour your skills, also to choose subjects that genuinely interest you and that you have a passion for. Awards and good grades will always follow after that.
