Benoni Muslim School 2020 matric learner Maliha Carrim proudly walked home with eight distinctions.
“I attained distinctions in mathematics, English, Afrikaans, life orientation, physical sciences, life sciences, accounting and Arabic,” said Carrim.
“At first I was in shock, and then I was ecstatic and felt a huge sense of relief.”
The 18-year-old said the school is like her second home.
“I basically grew up at BMS. There was always a sense of familiarity and camaraderie,” she said.
“I could always rely on my teachers for support and motivation. Some of my fondest memories are with my closest friends at school.”
This year the Westdene resident is going to study medicine at the University of Witwatersrand, and the degree is six years long.
“My parents are both medical doctors, and watching them work has inspired me to pursue this career path,” she explained.
She also advised those starting high school and finishing school.
“For learners starting high school, I would advise them to discover their strengths and interests and choose their subjects wisely later on.
“For matric learners, my advice is to maintain consistency and balance. Work steadily throughout the year to avoid exam-time panic and don’t work yourself into a frenzy.
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“The best way to tackle any subject is to start from the absolute basics and increase the difficulty as your understanding builds.”
According to Carrim, 2020 took a negative toll on her mental health, but she always made her goals her main priority.
“Faith and the mantra “this is all going to be over soon” is what got me through the year,” she explained.
“I missed out on physical class time, spending time with my friends and celebrating the exciting events that usually come with a “normal” matric year.”
Carrim also shared her study tip: “The method that worked best for me was making colourful notes and summaries. I worked through as many past papers as I could to familiarise myself with the structure of the exams and the different types of questions.”
