When the matric results SMS came through, Joshua Petersen wasn’t at home refreshing his phone alone.

He was at a school event, surrounded by friends, classmates, teachers, and parents, when he finally saw the numbers that summed up a year of pressure, doubt, and persistence. “I was really surprised by the number of distinctions I got. It was more than I expected, but the biggest shock for me was English. That had always been a subject I struggled with, so getting a distinction there meant a lot.”

That English result, he said, was proof that consistent effort over the year mattered more than last-minute panic. In the final term, Petersen’s study days did not follow the idealised routines often shared on social media. “Most days were not perfect. Some days, I managed to study for about six hours and broke it up into different subjects. Other days, I couldn’t get any studying done at all. I had to accept that instead of panicking. I realised that was okay too.”

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He added that his biggest challenge during matric was procrastination, especially when the workload felt overwhelming. “I’d tell myself I will start later, which only made the stress worse. What helped was breaking tasks into smaller pieces. Once I started just doing something instead of waiting for the right time, things became more manageable.”

Petersen elaborated that there were moments when his confidence was tested. One of the hardest came on the morning of English paper 2, which happened to fall on his birthday. “I woke up with a really bad stomach bug and nausea. I genuinely doubted how well I’d done and whether the work I submitted was good enough.”

That doubt lingered until results day. Seeing the final mark forced a mindset shift. “It showed me that my work throughout the year had paid off. I realised I needed to trust my ability, instead of constantly second-guessing myself.”

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Despite the demands of matric, Petersen refused to give up time with his friends, whom he describes as his main support system. “They are an essential part of my life. Without them, I wouldn’t have achieved the results I did. Whether it was going for a run, playing golf, or even studying together, I tried to find balance by killing two birds with one stone.”

As the Class of 2026 prepares for their own matric year, Petersen believes one piece of advice is often overlooked. “Don’t wait to feel motivated before you start working. Motivation comes and goes. Discipline is what carries you through matric. Even on days when you feel flat, doing something small still moves you forward.”

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