Beyond The Ordinary Levels...
We recently shared a #TBT (Throwback Thursday) picture with our first ever CLUBHOUSE Scholars in 2012. Having been in 6th grade then, it dawned on us that they had now just finished their O-levels! For those not acquainted with the Cambridge high school model employed in Zimbabwe (and other places), “O-Levels” stands for the “Ordinary Level” high school education- the first pivotal moment before you do two more years known as the Advanced- or A-Levels. Although increasingly losing luster as the academic world gets more competitive and accessible, O-Levels have traditionally been a critical watershed: a coming-of-age moment. For a long time, “they’re done with school” meant finishing your O-levels, with everything that came thereafter being extra. Because they often coincided with the height of adolescence, finishing O-levels has also been proxy to transition into adulthood- albeit young. I belabor this point to say: Finishing O-Levels is somewhat of a big deal.