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High school odyssey – an epic challenge
As I watched the matric class gather to receive their results last week, the sense of accomplishment was thicker than the plot of a Dickens novel. The individual envelope handed out to each matric student marked not just the culmination of their high school career, but a journey as epic as any quest in literature. Observing their smiles, tears, and sense of relief and accomplishment, I couldn’t help but reflect on their journeys like a novel whose origin began back in Grade 7. Could I be an English teacher if I thought differently?
Starting high school is akin to stepping onto the stage of a Shakespearean drama, where you are both hero and occasionally comic relief. Everything from the towering lockers to the longer school hours seems designed to test your mettle. In Grade 7, you might feel that you’re at the bottom of the heap again after ruling primary school. It’s a fresh start, a chance to learn, and to begin crafting your own story. Embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with each new class and each new project.
As time marches on, the strange and formidable landscape of high school becomes familiar territory. You find your feet, and start to navigate through your days with the ease of Elizabeth Bennet at a ball – though perhaps with fewer marriage proposals. Moving into Grade 8, the scene changes slightly. Feeling a smidge superior – take note of the sibilance, teachers are always going on about it in English – you start to view the school corridors with a bit of a swagger, proud of how you’ve mastered the locker combinations and class schedules. Looking at the new Grade 7s, you find it hard to believe you were ever that lost.
The middle years of your journey are when you begin to grasp the gravity of your choices. Grade 9 will nudge you closer to the realities of senior high. It’s like being given control of a Netflix account halfway through an intriguing series – you get the power to change the series or turn up the volume on your interests. This year, as you choose subjects that might dictate your future – think an algorithm suggesting your next binge – remember that every decision helps script your ultimate high school show. It’s a time to deepen your exploration into both general and Jewish studies, similar to deciding whether to dive into the philosophical depths of The Good Place or keep up with the fast-paced twists of Stranger Things. While you’re tackling these academic challenges, keep your sense of humour about the quirky moments, like feeling like mastering maths is as bewildering as understanding the rules of Quidditch in Harry Potter.
As Grade 10 rolls around, teachers start heralding the approach of matric with the enthusiasm of town criers. Suddenly, you’re not just preparing for the next test; you’re laying the groundwork for the grand finale. You feel older, yes, but not necessarily freer. You’re in school for what feels like endless hours, and every teacher seems to have a favourite mantra: “If you get this right now, you won’t struggle later!” Wait, what? Wasn’t I just in Grade 7? It’s a mix of newfound independence and sobering responsibilities. It’s as if you’ve been handed the keys to a more adult part of life, when the decisions you make start to have weight and your parents begin speaking in terms that make the next steps – matric, university, careers – feel imminent and important. Choose subjects with both your head and your heart, let your head analyse future career paths and academic benefits, while your heart tunes into subjects that spark curiosity and passion.
Grades 11 and 12 blur into what feels like a single marathon year. In Grade 11, a newfound freedom is flexed as much as possible, but your teachers continually remind you, “You’re basically in matric.” Then, suddenly, you’re in the thick of the matric year, where the days fly by filled with “firsts” and “lasts”. Every school event gives you a feeling of finality, and the balance between enjoying these moments and preparing for exams can feel overwhelming. Yet, amidst the hustle, it’s crucial to maintain perspective. Your worth isn’t solely defined by school. The journey through high school, with its ups and downs, teaches you much more than academic subjects, it teaches you about life.
Defining yourself by numbers on a page helps no-one. Sure, the marks are important, but they aren’t everything. The true beauty of high school lies in the journey. Yes, it’s a cliché as old as time, but it rings especially true in the corridors and classrooms of your school days.
When you come to collect your results, as my matrics did last week, you want to look back not just at a transcript but at a tapestry woven with moments of laughter, lessons learned, friendships made, and challenges overcome. High school is about learning to dance in the rain rather than just waiting for the storm to pass, and the less rhythm you have, the more entertaining it will be.
- Dr Jordan Moshe is deputy principal at Yeshiva College Girls High School, and a senior English and halacha teacher.
