Page 12 - Boardwalk Meander Issue 3 2026

EDUCATION

THE WEIGHT WE GIVE

TO MATRIC

hen a child reaches Matric, the whole A school-leaving qualification becomes a measure of intelligence, potential
household can begin living by one school and future success. A percentage starts to feel like a judgement on seventeen
Wcalendar. Holidays are shortened or or eighteen years of growing, learning and becoming. Young people begin to
cancelled, weekends become study time and family believe that one examination period will confirm whether they are capable,
plans are arranged around prelims, applications and whether their parents are proud of them and whether their lives are moving
final examinations. Even ordinary conversations seem in the right direction. That is an enormous load to place on somebody who is
to make their way back to marks, deadlines or what still working out who they are.
comes next.
The pressure seldom arrives through one dramatic conversation, but
Parents are trying to help, while teenagers are trying to tends to gather through ordinary questions. What did you get? Where are
hold it together, and by the middle of the year neither you applying? How much have you studied? Did you hear what someone
side is particularly convincing. else achieved?

Matric deserves to be taken seriously. It requires These questions may come from interest, concern or genuine excitement,
commitment, consistent work and a willingness to keep but teenagers hear more than the words themselves. They notice the anxiety
going through a long and demanding year. Results can underneath them and recognise when their parents are comparing, worrying
influence university admission and some of the options or silently calculating what each mark may mean. As the year progresses,
available immediately after school, but the problem many Matrics are carrying their own ambitions alongside the hopes and fears
begins when we ask the year to mean more than that. of everyone around them.

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Boardwalk Meander Estate Issue 3 · 2026