As the Class of 2026 falls into their matric journey, Crawford International Sandton College Class of 2025 top achiever Justin Sher has one clear message: success does not come from burning out.

Sher, who finished matric with an overall average of 93.46%, said learners perform better when they balance academics with sport, fitness, and social life.

“Live a balanced life. Make time for activities, sport and extracurricular activities alongside academics. It actually improves performance instead of hurting it.”
According to Sher, one of the biggest mistakes learners make is thinking they must study all day to succeed.

During his final term, he followed a realistic routine that included about five hours of focused studying and regular gym sessions.

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“It was not just sitting at a desk all day. Gym helped me stay disciplined, focused, and mentally fresh.” He also encourages the Class of 2026 to stay consistent, especially towards the end of the year. Sher pointed out that his History mark showed him how important steady effort is.

“I finished with 96% for History, which was higher than my prelim results. That improvement showed me how much consistency in the final stretch really matters.”
Sher elaborated that confidence is also key, but it must be built on preparation.

“I was confident because I knew I was doing the work. Confidence comes from being prepared, not from hoping for the best.” Despite being a top achiever, Sher refused to give up his social life or sports.

He continued playing cricket and took part in the Fourways Hundred tournament, where he scored a career-best 181 and was named Player of the Tournament.

“Staying involved in sport and spending time with friends and family helped me reset mentally. That balance made it easier to focus when it was time to study.”

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