Finding balance in the chaos: A message for matrics
Monnas’ Tanika Botha says 2025 matrics should embrace the pressure with a plan, purpose and the occasional bar of chocolate.
Most high school learners and residents might agree that the matric year is one of the most difficult school years. However, a Hoërskool Monument matric learner wants to encourage the matrics of 2025.
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Tanika Botha, deputy head girl and dance production choreographer at Monnas, has her hands full. However, she is highly motivated to get things done and achieve this year.
“I’m a bit of everything, I love being organised, but also go with the flow and see where I end up. I want adrenaline and lots of it; that little moment before it feels like your heart’s gonna drop is what I want as much as possible,” she said.
She says that, up to this point, despite it being fun, matric has been difficult and just as serious.
She jokingly recommends that a great stress reliever is chocolate.
“Besides chocolate, a great way I cope with stress is to clear my head. Instead of thinking of everything you need to do, just do it and get it over with, even when you don’t want to. Talking to close loved ones also helps me a lot, as they help change my perspective because a lot of the time, I just look at everything on this whole to-do list. Don’t look at the whole staircase, look at the step in front of you,” she found.
Working hard in your matric year is very important, and Tanika finds that the amount of hard work depends on your life goals.
If you have high goals, you need to work hard. So take that stress and turn it into motivation to do the best you can and achieve those goals,” she said.
She believes that good planning is the key to a successful matric year.
“There’s too much to do, and if you don’t know where to start, break it up and work from there. I promise your stress will decrease; however, a little stress is good, it pushes you,” she said.
For a matric learner, balance is also a key part of their life, where Tanika feels doing a little bit of everything is good for you, as it keeps your mind busy with different things that stimulate you.
“Once again, balance is about planning, but it also comes with sacrifice; sometimes you have to skip a dance lesson for an extra class and vice versa. It’s about focusing on what’s most important now and working from there. With God by your side, everything happens for a reason, whether you like it or not,” she concluded.
