Ashraf Moosa, the school’s 2018 Dux recipient, produced outstanding matric results and was placed first in the Ugu District and third in KwaZulu-Natal. “I really did not expect to do so well and I thank God for having blessed me with these achievements and I am humbled by it,” said Ashraf.
He received nine distinctions and had an aggregate of 96.33 percent. Besides his school work, Ashraf also participated in other events throughout the year. “I was very fortunate to have taken part in the Best Speaker competition last year and made it through to the finals. I also participated in the SAMF Mathematics Olympiad in which I was placed amongst the top 100 learners in South Africa and I was also placed first amongst Quintile five schools in KZN in the competition.”
Ashraf also did extremely well in the SA Physics Olympiad in which he and Mark Laloo were placed in the top 30 nationally and he came first in the country for the SAIPA Accounting Olympiad.
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Ashraf plans on studying either medicine or actuarial science at the University of Cape Town. He has this advice for current and future matrics, “Work hard throughout the year. Do not leave anything to the last minute. Work piles up very quickly in matric, especially in the first two terms. And most importantly, use your study guides – they aren’t ornaments to be used days before an exam.
Samishka Amichund, who was second in the grade, explained how one of the most challenging parts of her matric year, was trying to keep the above the work load and not just push work and assignments for later on. “Procrastinating can be a major challenge but once you find motivation it’s easier to study,” said Samishka.
She explained how she would study for whatever subjects she felt needed more attention, and worked on it until she was completely satisfied. One of her many achievements she is most proud of is coming out in the top 100 for the SAMF Mathematics Olympiad. Apart from her stressful year in matric, one of her most memorable and destressing moments was her biology trip to the Cradle of Humankind.
Samishka plans on studying BSc chemical engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and thereafter work and study postgraduate honours.
“Matric has been a long and difficult phase but I was able to push through due to the support and encouragement of my parents and younger sister. I would also like to thank my school friends and teachers that motivated and guided me this year,” she said.
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Mark Laloo, third, stated that he knew from day one what type of results were needed for his field and university of choice, which is what motivated him to keep at his studies and produce excellent results. ” I have always been set on studying Mechatronic Engineering, specifically at UCT. Afterwards I plan on leaving the country as soon as I can due to their being very little scope for this field in SA, so I would love to move forward to bigger things,” he said.
One of the biggest challenges he faced in his matric year was when his Engineering Graphics and Design project, which was given months in advance, was stolen two weeks before the due date. “This was extremely difficult for me as I was to do this task in my own time while also trying to prepare myself for trial exams. It was also emotionally straining, having to redo the same project purely because of another student taking my work,” explained Mark.
To the matrics, “Work hard as soon as possible. It is not always easy to do this, I myself know this all too well. However I can say that studying hard for the June and Trial exams will pay off more than many realise. Studying the content thoroughly during these two periods leaves very little new content to study for finals, resulting in your studies purely being recap and revision.” Mark would lastly like to thank all of his teachers who motivated him to work harder and believed in him from the start as well as for all the fond memories.
According to the grade aggregate, these students were part of the top five achievers:
Clarice Joseph earned herself super marks even when she took on an additional subject from grade 10, that subject being geography, and although she wasn’t attending classes for this subject at school, she was still able to achieve the top mark for it every year since grade 10 and even achieved a distinction for it in her final exam.
For her future endeavours, Clarice is deciding between engineering and bio medical technology. “I plan on furthering my tertiary education to the highest level that I can and then later using my acquired skills and knowledge to perform my job at an optimum level,” she said.
“Firstly, I would like to thank God for all the success I have achieved thus far as through God all things are possible. Secondly, I want to thank my parents who encouraged and worked alongside me. Lastly I would like to thank all my wonderful teachers at Scottburgh High. Each one of you had a role to play in my results. And thanks for the little laughs and giggles we had in-between which just made our time together at Scottburgh feel like a second home.”
Clarice states that you should think of matric as climbing a mountain. “Not everyone has the desire to do it, but then these people will never walk away with the achievement of saying I reached the top. For those who do have the desire to attempt this journey, be guarded as your journey will be filled with hard work, late nights, stress, deadlines and more. You may have set back and stumbles, but through perseverance and determination you can push through.”
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Meghan Lewis, who believed that through diarising her work to stay organised and by making her own study notes to revise from, were extremely important for her in order to achieve her best results. She would constantly tell herself “You’ve got this” and had written it all over her diary and study notes to help with the motivation to keep going.
One of Meghan’s proudest moments was when she was awarded the prize for the most academic improvement in her final year at school. There were two main highlights of Meghan’s year being the matric dance and biology tour. “Both were amazing experiences and loads of fun!”
She hopes to study occupational therapy next year, but will firstly need to convert her maths literacy to pure maths first. ”
I could never have done it without my mum and my family who always supported and guided me, my friends who kept me laughing and my teachers at Scottburgh High School who were extremely dedicated and always went above and beyond to teach, assist and motivate me,” she said.
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