As over 800 000 learners are set to receive their 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results today, it took me down memory lane when I received my matric results in 2001.
I may have given my age away, but that’s okay.
At the time, I attended a school in my home town of Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha.
Anxiety and nerves pulsated through my body, I felt excited and happy one moment and then sheer terror the next while my parents and I made our way to school that morning.
The thought that my name may not appear in the newspaper that morning and that everyone would know whether I had passed or failed, make fun of me or call me a failure terrified me.
What would the church congregation think? What would my classmates say and think? What would my uncles, aunts and extended family think? What would our neighbours think?
While I was fighting anxiety and dark thoughts, my parents were so confident that I had passed that they smiled happily, keeping positive and telling me not to worry.
My thoughts never went to the hours I spent studying or my exam preparation, my mind and body went to the worst case scenario.
What would I do if I failed? The whole province would know because my name would be omitted from the newspaper.
And what if I passed but due to a printing error my name did not appear in the newspaper?
In that case, even if I told everyone I passed I would be called a liar and failure.
Any exam, whether it was academic or piano/ oboe had me filled with anxiety, in tears and convinced that I had failed.
The experience was certainly not enjoyable.
So, today as matriculants receive their results can we remember to be gentle and kind. Some may be fighting invisible fears or feel overwhelmed.
Every person is different, while some would be excited and happy, others may appear happy but deep down feel terrified and anxious and then there are those who are visibly nervous.
To the many matriculants, well done on completing your schooling journey. If you are anxious today, remember you are not alone.
And if your results did not go as you hoped and you fear not seeing your name in print, remember you are not alone.
There is support to assist you through this time.
Perhaps chat to a trusted adult/ teacher/ parent/ pastor if you not feeling yourself or if your matric results is not what you were hoping for.
Also remember, there are opportunities to rewrite subjects, so push through and don’t give up.
I also have to add that I’m not in favour of matric results being published in newspapers.
Recently, the Information Regulator lodged an urgent court application to stop the publication of the 2024 matric results.
However, the Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of the Department of Basic Education to have the results published.
