Final Thoughts
Matrics reflect on the past and look to the future
By: Ilan Preskovsky
“What school has done for me is equip me with skills that I can use when I enter the ‘real’ world, but the rest is up to me to figure out.”
King David Victory Park:
Erin Wasserman:
What are the most important things you learned at school outside of class?
My time on the Johannesburg Junior Council showed me the importance of creating connections with people from completely different backgrounds. I realised that it is so crucial to branch out and now I have friendships with people from different schools for the rest of my life.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I will most definitely not miss waking up at 6:00 in the morning to catch the bus to school at 6:45. I will, however, miss the family that I had at Victory Park with my teachers and friends and my bus drivers, Mike and Pete.
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
My science teacher for grade 8 and 9, Mr Cloete, would always tell us: if you are going to panic, panic slowly. Even though he is no longer with us, I use this piece of advice in my day-to-day life. Whenever I am really stressed, I tell myself to stress slowly.
Hannah Evan
What are the most important things you learned at school OUTSIDE of class?
I think the most important thing I learnt from school outside of class was how to communicate effectively with a range of people who share different beliefs, likes, and dislikes to myself. I am able to find common ground and even make friends with people who ‘on paper’ I don’t have much in common with. School and its family environment taught me that.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
Most: seeing my friends and my favourite teachers every day without fail and, obviously, the tuckshop.
Least: waking up at 5:45am.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
I am fearful that the world is adapting to one characterised by hate. I feel in today’s society we are solely focused on hate, discrimination, and differences. That scares me! I’m scared to live in a society that fosters hate instead of finding ways to find communality and bonds.
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
After a particularly difficult day at school, one of my favourite teachers told me: Hannah, it’s okay to cry and actually you must cry. Just let it out. I think for me this has been the best advice I ever received and although it sounds so simple, having my feelings validated was exactly what I needed in that moment. And on top of being validated, she was telling me she doesn’t see me as any less for being emotional. Having emotions doesn’t make me less of a strong woman. She taught me that and I will forever be thankful for that life lesson.
King David Linksfield
Daniel Schloss:
What are the most important things you learned at school OUTSIDE of class?
Being part of a sports team was very fulfilling and educational in a very different way from my academics. On the soccer field I learnt that success is not always measured by the marks or scores you achieve. Additionally, compared with the lessons I learnt in class, it was important to me that I developed social and other skills that cannot be gained by sitting at a desk. It is unusual for people to associate sport with school success, however participating in a team activity and finding your place in a sports team is more than simply an accomplishment, but rather an invaluable life experience. The camaraderie I shared with my teammates on and off the field, and the lessons I learnt through our interactions, could not have been engendered in the classroom.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
Although I am confident that I will achieve my academic goals as I have worked diligently, I still have fears for my future. Receiving academic success is supposed to help me navigate the road ahead. As I have not yet decided what I would like to study, I feel overwhelmed with the uncertainty that I have in front of me. I have loved being in the comfortable and familiar environment that King David Linksfield has afforded me over the past 12 years, but leaving school would mean having to be more independent about my decisions and choices. The thought of leaving the coziness of my comfort zone and entering the unknown is very daunting.
What surprised you the most about your matric year?
Often I was led to believe that school is a rigid place of learning. However, my matric year has made me realise that even in the time that I needed to be the most studious and hardworking, I experienced the most amount of joy. I have spent much of this year studying for exams, but ironically it has been the year where I have improved and strengthened my school relationships the most. Throughout my entire school career, I have anticipated the moment where I can say, “I have completed my final exam,” and it’s time to move on. That feeling has transformed from excitement to wistfulness. This nostalgic feeling I have has surprised me as I never expected to be hesitant about finishing matric, but the year has culminated on such a high that I am really feeling sad to be finishing my schooling. Looking back at this year, I realise that I have had an exceptional experience and question – how can one ever really be ready to leave?
Shayna Salomon:
What are the most important things you learned at school OUTSIDE of class?
Throughout my high school years, I have come to truly understand the importance of connections and relationships in developing your character. Throughout high school, the friendships I have formed with my peers as well as the connections I have formed with my teachers have allowed me to develop a personal identity that is shaped by the inspiration of those around me. By truly listening to my peers and teachers and allowing myself to internalise the inspiration that they give, I am able to carry meaning into my life that pushes me to be the best person that I can be. I have learnt the importance of listening to those around you as every person has so much inspiration and meaning to offer. I am so grateful for all the connections I have made because I would not be who I am if I wasn’t surrounded by my peers.
What surprised you the most about your matric year?
Upon entering my matric year, I was quickly surprised by the continuity of an energetic and exciting school life. Matric is often portrayed as a year dominated by studies and loneliness as you sit at your desk at home, but for me Matric showed another light of high school that I had never experienced in previous years before. The months studying for exams, referred to as the ‘lows’ of matric, are what allow the gaps of freedom in between to be that much more special, passionate, and meaningful. I felt as if my matric year was so special due to the memories that I made as a result of the passion of my peers in the breaks between the intense study periods. By being forced to work hard throughout the year, the moments of freedom were just that much more memorable.
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
The best advice that my favourite teacher ever gave me is to value change and appreciate the discomfort that change brings. I often find myself particularly emotional about parting from close friends and teachers who I have connected with over the years, and often this caused me to fear post-matric. However, my teacher taught me an important message about change. She explained that the pain of parting from the past is what allows us to grow and welcome a new chapter of our lives. These heart-breaking goodbyes allow for so much beauty and new connections. She said that we have to experience the sadness of high school ending in order to welcome a new chapter. Through this lesson I have come to appreciate every moment with the people around me even if I will no longer see them next year while also looking forward to my future that awaits me. I have come to understand the beauty and importance of change in allowing us to grow into who we are.
Yeshiva College
Jayda Sack:
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I’m really going to miss seeing my friends every day! It was such a privilege to be able to spend every day with them and it will definitely take some getting used to with my not seeing them all the time. What I’ll miss the least is definitely the pressure that came with school – the busyness of school days paired with lots of homework and tests.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
I feel very hopeful about the opportunities that come with starting a new chapter of my life. Leaving school is a significant milestone and I’m excited to discover new things about myself out of a school setting. However, I am fearful about the challenges that will certainly come as I enter into adulthood.
Do you think school has properly prepared you for “real life”?
To an extent, school has properly prepared me for ‘real life’. While school has definitely given me skills to cope with everyday challenges, I do think that one has to learn from experiences. Out of school I am certainly going to experience things that I never have before, and hopefully the skills that I learnt in school will assist me in those times, but ultimately I think that I will learn as I go.
Rafi Midzuk
What are the most important things you learned at school OUTSIDE of class?
It doesn’t matter where you started or where you are/finished. The only thing that matters is that you grow. That you must take every opportunity that comes your way
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I am going to miss the opportunity of developing friendships with my classmates and people from other grades every day. I had the privilege to be in a fun and inspiring school environment where I could create countless core memories. Thankfully I have the freedom to do as I wish with my time unlike during school which I will not miss having to spend my entire days run by the school day, doing homework and studying.
Do you think school has properly prepared you for “real life”?
School has prepared me in many ways for ‘real life’ such as giving me the opportunity to experience independence and responsibility on an overseas school trip as well as the skills needed to critically analyse and research current businesses and their economic and moral standings. However, I will face numerous situations and problems that I have never been taught about, never studied for, and never practiced, and I will have to create my own methods for solving these problems.
Torah Academy Boys
Yair Barouchi
What are the most important things you learned at school OUTSIDE of class?
I learned to always be prepared, and that even if things don’t work out according to your plan, you must still try your best to excel.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I will miss the teachers the most. From each one, I learned many life lessons, and each teacher taught me how to succeed. I will not miss the essays and assignments!
What surprised you the most about your matric year?
How quickly the year flew by. And how kind each teacher was, and how they all helped me even more as the workload increased, enabling me to manage and succeed.
Torah Academy Girls
Sheva Ash
What are the most important things she learnt at school outside of class?
Beyond academic lessons, I learned the value of letting go, embracing the joy of existence, dancing, and laughing with friends during breaks, and the importance of inclusion. I gained insights into living a Jewish life, embodying the qualities of a mensch, and understanding the true essence of unity. These experiences taught me what truly matters in life.
What surprised you the most about your matric year?
Our educational system and community encourage us to strive for excellence, but this comes with external pressures. The build-up to the final year is filled with discussions about grades, the immense workload, goals, and subject choices. This can be overwhelming, leading to anxiety and tremendous pressure. This year, I discovered the significance of choice, balance, and attitude. We have the power to choose how the final year impacts us, and this principle extends to all areas of our future lives.
What makes you hopeful for your future?
Now more than ever, our nation exhibits unprecedented levels of kindness, unity, and strength. I am certain that, regardless of the path my life takes now that I am leaving the school system, I will always be surrounded by a supportive nation, community, and people who back me. Our nation is what gives me all the hope I need for my future.
Hirch Lyons Girls High School
Batya Waks,
What are the most important things you learned at school OUTSIDE of class?
I learned the fundamentals of Derech Eretz, how to interact with different people, and how to be an effective student leader. In addition, I learned the importance of working diligently, yet trying to maintain a balanced lifestyle – learning Torah, exercising, getting sufficient sleep, and eating healthily – despite the large workload and pressures.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I will miss seeing my friends every day, Shabbatons, and playing netball at break…I won’t miss those long school days when we had to complete our CATs (common assessment tasks) and study for exams, while still trying to finish regular homework!
What surprised you the most about your matric year?
Matric is notoriously known for being challenging and stressful. However, I was surprised that some of the biggest causes of stress were related to the preparation for life after school. There is a lot of pressure placed on grade 11 and matric students to choose a gap year programme, to apply to universities, to write NBTs, to get a driver’s license… These important decisions definitely add to matric’s intensity.
Hirsch Lyons Boys High School
Shimon (Surname coming)
What do you wish you did differently?
Having read Robert Kiyosaki’s ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ in grade 6, I always believed school was a waste of time. This caused me to not focus and take my work lightly. However, I wish I worked much harder throughout school, and did not justify my laziness with the fact that school was a waste of time. If there is one thing that an IEB matric teaches you it is hard work. And what’s more important than hard work, determination, and grit?
What makes you hopeful/fearful for your future?
As a Jew, I am excited by the opportunities that the State of Israel presents. Israel has a thriving
technology and business industry that I am thrilled to soon be a part of. I am hopeful that soon I will be able to play a part in advancing and upgrading Jewish life and society in Israel and the world. The competitiveness of Israeli industry and the challenges of being a new immigrant do scare me, however I am hopeful that I will be able to rise above these obstacles.
What are the most important things you learnt at school OUTSIDE of class?
The most important skill I developed at school, outside of the classroom, was human relations. At school you learn to befriend and cope with people that have differing personalities, perspectives, and interests than you. The human relations skills that I learnt from school are best summarised by Dale Carnegie: ‘Showing genuine interest in others, smiling, remembering names, being a good listener, being sincere, and avoiding arguments.’ Dealing with people is a necessity for success in life and I am therefore very grateful for developing the foundations of this skill at school.
Cape Town Torah High
Brocha Lewis (Girls Division):
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
As someone who has always loved school, there are so many things that I will miss. Mostly spending countless hours with friends, the simplicity of life, and the structured routines that I didn’t have to create. Something that I will not miss is the stress of organising lift schemes, although that is something that I will have to endure until I get my license.
What do you wish you did differently?
I wish that I had spent more time finding myself and finding hobbies that I enjoy. I wish that I hadn’t taken my time with family and friends and being in a constant learning environment for granted. I wish that I had found a better work-life balance.
What surprised you the most about your matric year?
What surprised me the most about my matric year was how quickly it went by. I am so privileged that with my school’s flexibility, I was able to spend a month in Israel for the birth of my nephew while keeping up with my work.
Tuvya Opert (Boys Division):
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I will undoubtedly miss my peers the most from my school days. I always felt like the guys at my school were one big group, united, where differing interests never alienated people from each other. Although I am more fortunate than many matrics, as my best friend is coming with me to Yeshiva, there are still many who I’m leaving behind. Regarding what I’ll miss least? Probably the terrible feeling of staying up all night to finish a project that’s due the next day.
What do you wish you did differently?
I wish I took my kodesh studies more seriously from the beginning. When I first came to school, I thought that kodesh was a necessary but ultimately secondary part of my education. What I realised a few years in and more than ever now on my way to Yeshiva, is that kodesh was the most valuable part of my education, and if I had realised that sooner I could have gained so much from the amazing Rabonim at my school.
Do you think school has properly prepared you for “real life”?
‘Real life’ is a pretty ambiguous term. I imagine school to be quite different from real life, and I don’t necessarily think that it’s the job of school to prepare you for real life. What school has done for me is equip me with skills that I can use when I enter the ‘real’ world, but the rest is up to me to figure out.
Maharsha Boys High School
Yechiel Neimann
What are the most important things you learned at school OUTSIDE of class?
Outside of the classroom, I learned many invaluable life skills such as teamwork, time management, and effective communication. Interacting with other students who had different opinions and minhagim broadened my perspective and contributed significantly to my personal development. Perhaps most importantly, I realised the significance of patience, consistency, and not stressing over factors beyond my control.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
On the one hand I am hopeful for my future because of the potential for personal growth, exciting opportunities, and positive changes that I will experience in and after Yeshiva. On the other hand, I feel a sense of fear due to the uncertainties and challenges of different life stages will appear as I navigate the unknown path ahead.
Do you think school has properly prepared you for “real life”?
While all schools will prepare a person for life with valuable academic knowledge, I believe that preparation for ‘real life’ also demands adaptability, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills that extend beyond the classroom. I noticed during my school experience at Maharsha that the school has also taught me many practical skills to be able to meet these demands thereby preparing me for ‘real life’.
Maharsha Beis Yaakov
Adina Goldstein
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
The best advice I’ve ever gotten from a teacher was from a maths teacher and she said, do the best that you can, with what you have, in the situation that you are in.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
The thing I will miss most about school is seeing and chilling with my friends every day. The things I will miss the least are those ending at 5pm days and the endless amount of Afrikaans homework.
What surprised you the most about your matric year?
What surprised me the most about my matric year is that matric was actually very manageable and had a similar workload to grade 11. I thought it was going to be much more than what it actually was. What also surprised me was that how quickly the year actually went, the late few weeks of finals dragged on, but overall it was a pretty quick year!
Mesivta Shaarei Torah
Levi Nossel
What are the most important things you learned at school OUTSIDE of class?
For me, doing well in school was my major focus. I really wanted to meet the extremely impressive standards set by my six older siblings. However, I now realise that the most important part of school was the memories I made with my awesome class. Who could forget leaving the science lesson during holiday school to toss snowballs or when we went to Mabalingwe with our Rabbi and found ourselves stranded in the bush with a popped tyre. I have learned to value these precious memories more than the academic results that I get.
What makes you hopeful for your future?
My family. After being in school for twelve years with similar challenges each year and familiar faces surrounding me, it’s pretty intimidating to enter the real world. I’m going to Yeshiva in Israel which, in a way, makes things even more challenging as there is a different culture and lifestyle I will need to adapt to. Luckily, I have my amazing family to help me face the future. Especially my parents. Dad gives the best advice and is a true role model and Mom is always willing to listen and overload me with encouragement. I also have two married sisters living in Israel as well as two brothers currently in Yeshiva who make the prospect of being in Israel that much more appealing. I know that my entire incredible family will support me in whatever I do and that gives me the hope and courage to face whatever may come my way.
What surprised you the most about your matric year?
The realisation that I really love my school. Throughout my school career I would often think of the day when I would graduate and at last be done with school. Yet, after finally finishing, I am shocked at how sad I am to leave. I have enjoyed every year I spent at school with my amazing class who are the perfect combination of boys. They are smart and adventurous, and they pushed me to improve academically while still managing to make every day we spent together a blast. I am truly going to miss my dedicated teachers and the friendly faces of everyone involved in the school – even the principals, who with each passing day became less scary and more relatable.
Herzlia
Layla Abigail Musikanth
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I will definitely miss my teachers. I have close relationships with all my teachers, and they have impacted not only my school career but also who I am as a person. I will not miss having to prioritise different subjects. Having 7 subjects with different needs is difficult to manage.
What do you wish you did differently?
I wish I only started properly working in grade 10. I have been working very hard since grade 7 and feel burnt out as a result. Through developing this hard work ethic from a young age, it has provided me with the motivation to do well. I wish I had told myself that I did not need to work that hard as from grade 10 upwards is where you can choose subjects and focus on achieving. I am very excited for this new chapter of my life. It is bittersweet knowing that you are leaving a comfortable space for a new, different setting. We get the opportunity to start our young adult lives however we choose to. I am scared of the challenges that come with this, but am ultimately ready for this change in my life.
Do you think school has properly prepared you for real life?
I think school to some extent school has prepared me for ‘the outside world’. School has given me a hard work ethic, dedication, and a good foundation for learning. I have gained good leadership skills and good communication skills through school involvement in plays and committees. I have heard that lecturers at universities don’t ‘spoon feed’ you like school does, which is quite scary. Once I’m in first year I could be able to properly answer this question!
What surprised you most about your matric year?
The thing that surprised me the most about this year was the unacknowledged amount of time we have from prelims to finals. No one really told me how little time we have from prelims to finals. I didn’t expect this and thought it would be a longer break.
Jenna Zetler
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I’ll miss the shared time with my friends the most, but I won’t miss the stress of exams and deadlines.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
I am fearful of the uncertainties of the future, but above all I am hopeful because I know I will embrace all the new opportunities that lie ahead.
Do you think school has properly prepared you for “real life”?
While the syllabus did not always align with ‘real life’ the experiences our teachers shared with us, indeed added to the fundamental lessons needed for one’s life outside of school.
