Top matric achiever sets sights on legal career

Brakpan High School’s top 2024 matric achiever Enyichi Iroka, who aced the NSC exams with seven distinctions, believes envisioning her success helped contribute towards her impressive results.

As reported in last week’s Brakpan Herald, Enyichi obtained distinctions in English HL, Afrikaans FAL, life orientation, history, accounting, mathematics and life sciences.

The 18-year-old from Brakpan Central told the Herald she was inspired to strive for excellence in her studies by two things.

“First off, success gives me the platform to spread God’s holy word. When people ask how I achieved what I did, I can simply answer, all of God and none of me,” she said.

“Secondly, to make my friends and family proud really drove me to pursue greatness as a type of thank you for all they have done for me and for their presence in my life.”

She also shared the study techniques and routines that helped her achieve such high grades.

“Well, before every study session I would pray, asking God to enable me to understand the content that I would be dealing with.

“But really, repetition is key, especially if one is doing subjects such as mathematics and accounting. I practiced those subjects every day,” she said, adding that a study timetable is essential.

Enyichi explained that throughout her high school career, she was involved in numerous activities, from debate to netball, but in the beginning of Grade 12 she put a pause on all of these activities in order to focus on her studies.

Some of the challenges she faced included electricity and water outages.

“I recall a time last year where Brakpan did not have any water for about one week. This particular event actually led to the postponement of our life orientation prelim. I overcame such challenges by simply telling myself that it is what it is, so just keep pushing,” she said.

Enyichi praised her educators, describing them as the best teachers who made the work understandable and fun.

“I am truly grateful to all those who contributed to my success. My parents did all the house chores – from dishes to laundry – so that I could focus on studying,” she continued.

“My brother would answer my text messages, wherein I sought help regarding mathematics, at any time of the day, despite being a civil engineering student.

“My older sister was definitely my biggest cheerleader. As a medical doctor, she made it her duty to ensure my mental health was okay. As such she called me every two weeks.

“My teachers endured my countless questions and wanted me to succeed just as much as I did. They were awesome motivators. Asked what advice she would give to learners who aspire to achieve similar success, Enyichi responded, “Pray.”

“It may sound as though I am gatekeeping, but once you truly believe that “what God cannot do does not exist”, God will take control and do wonders for you,” she said.

“Also, get enough sleep. It may be hard to believe but I slept for at least eight hours every day. Sleeping is the best way for your brain to absorb what you studied.”

To stay motivated, Enyichi would envision her success.

“I would imagine waking up as a university student, picking up coffee at Starbucks and studying on a perfectly cut lawn. Then I would tell myself, matric is the gateway to that lifestyle,” she said.

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Probed about whether she learned anything unexpected about herself during her matric journey, Enyichi replied that she surprised herself by working well under pressure.

“Previously I didn’t think that I was capable of such. Naturally, I had pressure from my family, teachers and even my peers to succeed. I was surprised that I was able to block it all out and, as my mother says, focus on my focus,” she said.

It wasn’t strictly all about the books, and Enyichi still made time for some hobbies and other special interests.

“I actually have a YouTube channel called ChuChu Dey. I mainly post vlogs, dance challenges and videos sharing study tips,” she said, following it up with “Does ‘professional Netflix watcher’ count as a hobby?”

With high school done and dusted, Enyichi is striving for a career in law, and has been accepted to study at the University of the Witwatersrand. She is, however, in need of a bursary or financial assistance to make this a reality.

Questioned on her decision to pursue this career, Enyichi shared she’s been obsessed with true crime documentaries from a young age, as well as TV shows such as Judge Judy.

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“Apart from that, I really want to give a voice to the voiceless by representing and standing up for those who cannot do so for themselves,” she said.

She is most interested in political law.

“The inner workings of government systems and politics has always fascinated me, hence I took history as a subject. The fact that law can be integrated into these systems truly is a bonus,” she said.

As for her long-term career goals in the legal field, Enyichi aims to be the district attorney of New York in the USA.

“A district attorney basically represents the government of a particular area and decides which cases will go to court,” she explained.

Enyichi aims to make a positive impact on society through a career in law.

“I am most interested in tackling cases wherein the convicted individual claims to not have committed the crime,” she said.

“It is always disheartening to hear of wrongful convictions which resulted in the individual losing numerous years of their life for an offence which they did not commit.

“I would also like to be an inspiration for others. You don’t get many young, black females in the legal field. I aim to break the status quo and show that people like myself can accomplish anything we set our minds to.”

A legal professional she admires and is inspired by is former USA Vice-President Kamala Harris.

“She was once the district attorney of San Francisco. She started her campaign for the aforementioned position with nothing but an ironing board, duct tape and a sign reading, “Vote Kamala Harris for District Attorney”. I aspire to possess her tenacity and confidence,” she concluded.