When the Jamal sisters realised that all four of them would be celebrating their matric results together, the reaction was immediate and loud.

“We all started screaming. We were super nervous because we have high expectations of ourselves, but it really felt like all our hard work paid off,” said Alisha Jamal Liana, Nora, Alisha, and Sarah Jamal, quadruplets who matriculated from Redhill School, achieved strong results after what they described as a long and demanding academic journey. “Matric is a hard road. Everyone experiences pressure going into finals. Finally getting the results you worked for is indescribable. It’s such a relief and probably the highlight of my Grade 12 year,” said Liana.

For Sarah, the moment marked the end of a journey that began years earlier. “It’s something we have been looking forward to since Grade 7. 2025 was a difficult year, but it taught us how to study, how to practise, and how to rely on each other.”

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Despite sharing classrooms, deadlines, and exam timetables, the sisters were clear that they are far from identical. “We are all choosing different degrees. I am stronger in the arts, while others are stronger in maths. Those differences make us unique,” said Alisha.

That individuality was not always recognised. The sisters said they were often treated as a single unit, with classmates sometimes struggling to remember their individual names. “It was difficult. We are all individuals with our own interests, ambitions, and goals, but we found ways to show that, through how we dress, our interests, our friends, and how we carry ourselves,” Sarah added.

Rather than competing, the sisters said they consciously chose to support one another. “We each ran our own race. We all have our own goals, so we focused on helping each other reach them,” Nora explained.

That support proved vital during moments of stress and self-doubt. “Obviously, we leaned on each other, but we also relied on our teachers, our friends, and the school. Sometimes they believed in us more than we believed in ourselves,” Liana pointed out.

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Studying together was common, with each sister contributing according to her learning style. Alisha said: “We all understand content differently. I am a visual learner, so I studied physics and chemistry with Liana, while the others studied biology together.”

The year was not without struggles. Nora admitted maths was particularly challenging, but said the constant encouragement from her siblings made a difference. “No matter what, they always believed in me, and seeing the results of helping each other was incredibly rewarding.”

Outside the classroom, the sisters prioritised mental and physical well-being, especially during exam season. Exercise, walks, time with family, and music played an important role. “We have been doing marimba since Grade 8. Playing marimba helped when things were stressful,” said Liana.

We asked the sisters to describe 2025 in one word; their answers varied: Surprising, challenging, hopeful, and rewarding.

Each sister now looks ahead to a different academic future, with plans ranging from graphic design and animation to business, psychology, criminology, linguistics, and medicine. All four will continue their studies in Canada.

Beyond the novelty of being quadruplets, the sisters hope people take the time to see them as individuals. “If you meet twins, triplets, or quadruplets, take the time to learn what makes them different. Treating people as individuals makes relationships far more meaningful,” Liana said.