On the AWSUM couch with Danville Park Girls’ High School’s RCL President: Bibi Ayesha Ally

Congratulations on being selected as a leader at your school. What are you looking forward to the most during your term as leader? I am looking forward to being able to connect with my fellow Danville Diamonds, especially the junior grades (grades 8 and 9). I feel they need extra attention after living through such difficult circumstances that have come with this pandemic. Additionally, I am looking forward to serving my school in this new position. I have been serving Danville in various facets since grade 8, so now I feel like I am ready to serve them as a leader in my final year of high school.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? I am a very determined and resilient person with a good work ethic. I am also a very trustworthy and responsible individual. My weaknesses are not being able to emotionally open up to people and my claustrophobia.

Is there anything you would like to change at your school? At this moment I would not necessarily change anything too drastically. However, I would like to bring back the spirit that used to flow through the corridors of our school, pre-Covid 19.

What do you love the most about your school? I love the diversity and how inclusive Danville is. And I especially admire how they are so open to suggestions from students for the betterment of the school, the RCL playing a vital role in this aspect.

Matric is your final year, from an academic point of view, what are you aiming for? Ideally, I am aiming for all A’s. But of course, if I do my best and do not receive all A’s, then I will not be disappointed because I know I tried.

What will your message of encouragement be for your prefects/co-leaders? Keep smiling. There will be a lot of challenges and hard days to face in the future, but we must just keep smiling and laughing to push through. Always look for the positive in every situation. And never forget that you are never truly alone, you have the whole prefect body with you on this journey. 

Who is your role model? My parents. I watch them work hard every day and sacrifice so much to provide the best and most comfortable life we can live together as a family. My parents never set any high expectations for either me or my sister. But seeing them work so hard and become so successful pushes me to work just as hard (if not harder) to try and reach my full potential from all the opportunities that have come my way through their sacrifice. Thank you, Abba and Mum, for all that you have done for me.

What are your plans after matric in 2023? I plan to study for my Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Psychology at the South African College of Applied Psychology, and further study to obtain my honours and masters in Clinical Psychology. Psychology focuses on helping people through the study of human behaviour, something that I am very interested in. But of course, sometimes things do not always go according to plan in life, so I will take every opportunity as it comes.

If you could be any superhero, who do you want to be and why? Spider-Woman, also known as Spider-Gwen. She is the female version of Spider-Man. I would love to be Spider-Woman because she is just a fun-loving teenager who happened to be bitten by a radioactive spider. She is one of the most humble superheroes in the Marvel Universe. And no matter how popular she becomes, she always remembers her roots. Gwen is overall a lovely and friendly human being who loves to keep the atmosphere light and happy.

On a regular Saturday, you will find me at…with…On a regular Saturday you will find me at my grandparents’ house spending quality time with my cousins and the rest of my family.

Who is your Hollywood celeb crush? Tom Holland. Not only is he a very humble and down to earth person, he is also a very talented actor and dancer.

Pick one:

• Netball, rugby, cricket, or hockey? Can soccer be an option… haha. Soccer is my life!
• Cappuccino, hot chocolate, or tea? Tea, definitely. I’m known as the ‘tea tanker’ in my family. 
• Braai with friends or takeaways? Braai with friends. Spending time with my friends is always time well spent.
• Binge watching series or a live music festival? Live music festival. I love my music!
• Android or iOS? iOS. I started off as an Android girl, but then I got an iPhone and I never looked back.