Matric 2025 in Review
Ilan Preskovsky
Aharon Joffe
Mesifta Shaarei Torah
What are the most important things you learnt at school OUTSIDE of class?
Hard work and consistency will always lead to a desirable result. I learnt a valuable lesson for life. Hard work always pays off. Knowing that the result is not actually the achievement, rather it is the act of pushing oneself to great levels of hardship, towards things that seem impossible to overcome and just trying one’s best in those circumstances whether one overcomes them or not. This is an idea that can be utilised for everything.
What do you wish you did differently?
I don’t think it’s healthy for anybody to dwell on the past. One can learn from past mistakes but one must never say to oneself “uh I really wish I had been more proactive, etc”. We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it. If you promised to yourself at the start of the matric year that you were going to give it your all and you didn’t… you mustn’t let that get you down, it doesn’t define you, reflect on it and just keep swimming. #NoRegrets
What makes you hopeful/fearful for your future?
I am hopeful about my own development. I understand that there is still a lot of room to grow both intellectually and in my personality. Up until now, I have been blessed to be surrounded by amazing people who have helped me every step of the way, but now I must walk my own path, and make my own decisions, of which I do not know the consequences. It is daunting but life is about taking that leap of faith, stepping into the unknown. I am hopeful of what life has yet to bring.
What are the biggest challenges facing teenagers today?
I do believe it ultimately boils down to lack of inspiration, addiction to social media, failure of the chinuch system to address basic hashkafa issues, and failure to establish meaningful loving connection with a rebbe. Something more specific for a school setting, however, is peer pressure, something that occurs daily at every single school in the world. I find that many teenagers totally deny that they are subject to peer pressure or that they themselves are the source of it. People must understand that they should never change who they are or what they do for anybody. If you are being put in an uncomfortable position by your friends, don’t cave in to the pressure or perhaps you should find new friends.
Racheli Vegoda
Maharsha Beis Yaakov
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
What surprised me the most about my matric year was how my perspective of time really changed. Somehow there never seems to be enough hours in the day and therefore any free moments you do have take on a whole new level of being appreciated. Shabbos to me has never felt like more of a gift than this year, and I hope to continue to never take it for granted.
What are the most important things you learnt at school OUTSIDE of class?
I think one of the most important things I learnt from school outside of the classes was resilience. Being consistent and showing up regardless of whether you feel like it, pushing through even when you’re tired and want to give up and ending up with being able to achieve things you never thought you were capable of is truly the most rewarding feeling. Life doesn’t ask you if it suits your plans and you don’t get to choose the challenges you’re dealt, I think learning how to power through regardless and prove to yourself how much you can really achieve if you put your mind to it is one of the most important things you can do.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
What I’ll definitely miss most about school is seeing my friends every day, all the crazy school memories and being with your favourite people on a daily basis is something that you just can’t compare. What I’ll miss least is being told what to do and where to be at all times, I definitely prefer my own independence 🙂
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
What makes me hopeful for my future is that I’ve really proven to myself that if I work hard, I can achieve. I have so many dreams and goals that I’m so excited to get to work towards and I’m ready to put in the effort that I need to in order to get there. I’m not quite sure exactly what Hashem has planned for me, but I can’t wait to find out and start really making my own path for myself.
Elyah Abramson
Yeshiva Maharsha Boys
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
What surprised me most about matric was how it constantly felt as if I could be doing more. I would do everything I possibly could for an exam or assignment and still tell myself afterwards that I should have studied or worked harder – even when I knew it wasn’t realistic. While this mindset did motivate me to keep pushing, it also began to take a toll, as I was never truly satisfied with the effort I put in. Matric became a life lesson in learning to be proud of the work I do, regardless of the outcome.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
The thing I’ll miss most about school is the time spent with friends without having to plan anything. I might forget the classes and homework, but the memories I built with them will stay with me forever. What I’ll miss least is the lack of independence. While I appreciated the structure and routine, being pushed to work on things that never interested me often felt more demanding than pursuing something I chose myself.
What do you wish you did differently?
I wish I had managed my time more effectively earlier in the year. While I worked hard, I focused mainly on assignments and homework, without thinking enough about the exams in the second half of the year. I regret not taking a little extra time between assignments to really understand the content. It would have been challenging, but in the long run it could have reduced the stress of cramming during exams and allowed me to maintain a healthier balance later in the year.
What makes you hopeful/fearful for your future?
The future excites me because it’s open and full of opportunities – almost like a blank canvas. For the first time in my life, I can choose to do what I enjoy, which is exciting but also a little scary, because the choices I make now can impact my life in ways they never did before. I have to decide what kind of person I want to be and what kind of life I want to live, and there’s no safety net if I make the wrong decision. These choices can feel daunting, but I trust that Hashem has a plan for me, so worrying about making the wrong choice isn’t worth the energy. I believe everything will work out in the end.
Matteo Coscia
Cape Town Torah High Boys
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
I pushed myself quite a lot academically, doing some AP exams which initially seemed daunting, but I studied hard and ended up doing really well. Also, at the start of the year I was quite worried about the social side of school as our school was particularly small this year but it ended up being a very fun year and I made tons of memories with my friends particularly with various Shabbatons we had.
What are the most important things you learnt at school OUTSIDE of class?
I learnt that when placed in a situation that seems daunting or overwhelming, the question to ask is what can I do? By doing so, you learn to make the most of any given situation.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
My plan is to study Computer Science either at UCT or, potentially (if I get in) the Technion in Israel. I have finished school with a solid social circle, robust academic record and a strong Jewish identity. The mystery surrounding the next few years is daunting but it also means I will have so many opportunities.
What are the biggest challenges facing teenagers today?
I think AI is an incredible and effective tool but unfortunately many teenagers are using it to do their projects for them. In doing so, they are depriving themselves of critical thinking opportunities. It is a positive thing for teenagers to be using AI but it must be done in a way which complements their abilities and is not merely used to take the easy way out of school.
Minna Wineberg
Cape Town Torah High Girls
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
I was surprised how fast the time went by.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I will miss being with my friends every day and I won’t miss causing trouble.
What do you wish you did differently?
I wish I put more effort into my work so I could’ve seen my greatest potential.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
I’m hopeful to see where Hashem will take me, and I’m fearful because the journey there is not easy.
Tevin Stoch
King David Linksfield
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
How much the teachers started viewing us matrics as friends, there was genuine care and friendliness between all my teachers and I noticed every day that they put in the extra effort to make sure we completely did the best we could for our matric results.
What are the most important things you learnt at school OUTSIDE of class?
I got the opportunity to give input about the school to help with the future plans of King David. At this talk I learnt something that I incorporate every day in my life. The lesson is to find something you’re passionate about, train and become skilful at that passion and find a way to create value in society with this passion, this is the best lesson I’ve learnt in my life.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
I am hopeful because I experienced stressful moments in matric but I came up on top and stayed calm while still reaching my goals. There will be more stressful times in my life and I have the mindset that I can get through anything if I put my mind to it. I’m fearful for losing the relationship that I have with so many people now, many of my friends are leaving for a gap year and going to different universities in other cities so it’ll be very difficult to keep those relationships going strong.
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
A week or so before student leader elections last year, I felt very nervous and anxious about the possibility of me not becoming a student leader which I had dreamed of for so long. When talking to Jodi Starkowitz about it, she reminded me of all the hard work and hours I put in and to just believe in myself. From that point onwards I stopped doubting myself and gave everything my all. I will always remember that moment.
Demi Lurie
King David Linksfield
What are the most important things you learnt at school outside of the classroom?
Outside of the classroom, school taught me how to work with a mix of personalities and communicate clearly. It showed me the value of friendship, patience, and handling challenges calmly. It helped me build confidence, stay organised, and balance responsibilities. Most importantly, it gave me everyday life skills that don’t come from my textbooks. These experiences shaped how I handle real-life situations today. They taught me lessons that go far beyond school walls and they helped me understand myself a little better along the way.
What makes you hopeful for your future?
Stepping out of this amazing school makes my future feel so bright. I have learnt that that I’m capable of growing, adapting, and handling challenges. After being in King David, I am confident that I can build strong connections, discover my strengths, and keep improving. Knowing how far I’ve already come gives me confidence that I can go even further in my future. The Jewish values and identity that I have learnt at King David will guide me through my life and allow me to always be a proud and committed Jew. The friendships I have made at King David are solid and I know that whatever happens in the future, we will always be connected as the class of 2025.
Aiden Goralsky
King David Victory Park
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
What surprised me most about my matric year was the extraordinary level of support and dedication shown by the KDVP teachers. I had always known our teachers were committed, but during matric, when pressure to complete the syllabus was at its peak, their efforts exceeded anything I expected. They arranged extra lessons, created additional learning materials, and remained unwavering in their determination to ensure we had sufficient time for revision. This level of devotion instilled confidence in us and ensured we were fully equipped to succeed. In hindsight, such commitment aligns with Victory Park’s legacy of excellence, but experiencing it so intensely in my matric year was truly remarkable.
What are the most important things you learnt at school outside of the classroom?
Outside of the classroom I learnt the value of committed and unwavering friends that support you during all pressures and challenges, whether that be academic,
social or personal. This year was truly demanding and recognising true friendships allowed me to have a support system that motivated and uplifted me during difficult times. I learnt that you need to show your appreciation and gratitude to those who care for you, and commit yourself to preserving and strengthening those connections.
Raquel Meyerowitz
King David Victory Park
How does it feel to be part of the final matric class in KDVP history and what are your general thoughts about the closure of the school, in general?
At the start of the year, I knew that as a matriculant I would be experiencing many “lasts,” but I never imagined that I would be sharing these final moments with the entire KDVP community. Being part of the final matric class in KDVP history is an emotional and significant experience. There is sadness in knowing that our year marks the end of the school, but there is also a strong sense of pride and gratitude for everything that has come before us. Being the final matric year has reminded me of how fortunate I am to have grown up in a school that celebrates each individual; a school that embraces the true meaning of family and a school whose legacy is not only education but its Heart and Neshama. While I once worried that these qualities would disappear after the school’s closure, I now feel confident that the morals, values and lessons VP instilled in us will continue to live on through its students. I am proud and excited to see Parkers carry this legacy forward and bring their influence, strength and character into the broader King David community.
What are the most important things you learnt at school outside of the classroom?
I truly believe that some of the most important lessons I learnt took place outside the classroom. Through participating in school assemblies and taking part in Shabbatons, I learnt the importance of observing and protecting our Yiddishkeit, as well as the value of shared tradition and community. On the sports field, I learnt how to be a leader and how to treat others with respect. Above all, I learnt the importance of forming meaningful connections and experiencing life to the fullest – lessons that I now realise matter far more than any mark on a report. As I reflect on my past five years of high school, I realise that it isn’t the marks on my tests that stand out, but the experiences that shaped me. I remember playing netball with my teammates, going on outings with my grade, learning on leadership camps, and the laughter shared in classrooms between lessons. These moments taught me to truly embrace life and helped me understand that the connections we form and the memories we create are far more powerful than any mark or award.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
What I will miss most about high school are the everyday moments that quietly became the most meaningful. Sitting in a circle on the field during break, laughing endlessly and catching up with friends, or the buzz and excitement in the changing rooms before a sporting event all felt ordinary at the time. Only now do I realise how deeply I will miss them. I will miss the sense of comfort that came from being immersed in a Jewish environment, where the love of Israel, Torah, and chagim was celebrated wholeheartedly. I will also miss the strong relationships I have built with my teachers over the years – teachers who supported me, challenged me and believed in me both inside and outside the classroom. What I will miss the least, however, are the early morning wake-ups and the daily rush to get ready in time to catch the bus. While those mornings were part of the high school experience, I won’t be sad to leave them behind as I move forward.
Ashira Rau
Yeshiva College Girls
What are the most important things you learnt at school OUTSIDE of class?
Outside of class I learnt the importance of having strong friendships and support systems. Truly my favourite part about school was my class and our close relationship. Without their friendship and my family’s support I wouldn’t have made it through the year. It is important to acknowledge and appreciate all those around you.
What do you wish you did differently?
I wish I stressed less. The secret to matric is working properly in advance, if you can do that by the time you get to finals it’s a breeze and not worth all the hype or stress at all.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
Fearful for the future to not have the safety net of school or the comfort of the same routine and people every day. What makes me hopeful is the vast horizons of opportunities, of new people and places, of sem and of Torah. It is definitely different now that I am leaving school and I am hopeful about the opportunities to come.
What are your thoughts on Hirsch Lyons Boys High joining YC next year? How do you think it will impact the school.
I think it’s a sad reflection of the state of the Jewish community that it’s shrinking to this point. But I think it’s a beautiful opportunity for YC and Hirsh Lyons to join and become the new and improved symbol of religious Zionism in South Africa. I think the move will impact YC positively, creating a more colourful, kinder environment with more derech eretz to match the legendary YC chaos.
Da’el Basserabie
Yeshiva College Boys
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
There isn’t much that I won’t miss from school. But what I will miss most is the sense of family and love in the boys’ high, the unbelievable connection with Rabbonim and teachers and the countless hours spent in the belly of the beast – the volleyball court.
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
Work hard play hard. As important as hard work is, rest is equally valuable. Especially in matric.
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
How fast the year flew by. We were studying for mini-prelims and the next thing we knew sitting at matric farewell. It was tough which came as no surprise but that toughness made it easier to appreciate the small moments of calm like when sitting with friends.
What are your thoughts on Hirsch Lyons Boys High joining YC next year? How do you think it will impact the school?
While it is sad to see a Jewish day school closing, the collaboration of two great institutions is exciting for the future of Jewish youth education. The joining of the two schools will open up talmidim of both sides to new perspectives ideas and people which is always a great thing.
Ella Cohen
Hirsch Lyons Girls High
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
I think when any student thinks of matric, they think it’s this terrifying prospect that no one is ever ready to start, that all normal life and routine must be abandoned just to get through the work. I thought thIs too, so I think the normality of my matric year surprised me the most. Yes, there is definitely an increase in pressure and each and every task done is counting toward something but it also just felt like another year of school and my friends and I kept saying to each other ‘it doesn’t feel like matric’.
What are the most important things you learned at school OUTSIDE of class?
I’ve learnt so many things at school. I’ve learnt to have derech eretz for every person and to always be respectful to others no matter the circumstance. I was also privileged to chair the school’s student representative council and I learnt so many valuable lessons about leadership such as running meetings, working with a team as well as time management.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
What will I miss the least? Probably the work pressure. It was definitely necessary to learn how to work efficiently and respect deadlines but I am happy to be finished with the consuming amount of work and pressure that is pushed in the school system. School is a set routine of learning, working and of course, seeing friends. I think I will miss the safety and security that this routine brings, of knowing exactly what you are doing each day, where your day will start and end and seeing my friends every day.
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
So I don’t think I had a favourite teacher but I definitely got lots of good advice. One of my harder subjects that I did was science, and when doing science, it is very important to do lots of past papers and practice questions in preparation for tests and exams because concepts can be applied in many different ways. My science teacher, Mr M, taught me how consistency is greater than quantity. He suggested that instead of trying to do whole test papers in one sitting, I should focus on spending just ten minutes a day doing science, just one example a day in order to keep my brain active. This was amazing advice because it gave a realistic frame of time to do science and left time for all the other subjects I also needed to do.
Gavriel Shwer
Hirsch Lyons Boys High
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
The amount of spare time I had.
What are the most important things you learnt at school OUTSIDE of class?
It is very important to have a balance between school work and socialising.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
What I will miss most is seeing my friends daily. What I will miss least is school work.
What do you wish you did differently?
Worried less about finals and getting distinctions
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
It makes me fearful to know that I am now an adult and need to make my own big decisions that will affect the rest of my life
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
To stop doubting my capabilities
What are the biggest challenges facing teenagers today?
The pressure to succeed.
How does it feel to be in Hirsch Lyons Boys’ final matric class? What are your feelings on the school merging with Yeshiva College?
I feel honoured to have been part of such an amazing school and feel very sad knowing I was the last year to benefit from such an amazing school and such a great education.
EDEN SACHS
Herzlia High School
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
The most surprising thing about my matric year was how much time I actually had to myself. I feel like there’s a stigma around matric, with people constantly saying they didn’t have time to do anything but study, but I feel quite the opposite. I was able to do things I enjoyed throughout the year. I spent a lot of time with my friends, meeting new people and relaxing.
What are the most important things you learnt at school OUTSIDE of class?
The most important thing I learned at school outside of the classroom was patience and communication. There were many times when the students, including myself, felt unhappy with certain decisions and we had to voice our opinions at the right time, after careful consideration, to ensure our requests were neither unnecessary nor too far-fetched. We were able to achieve things as a grade by waiting for the right time to approach situations.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
The thing I will miss most from school is seeing all my friends every day. I have grown up with the people in my class, and it is going to be a huge adjustment not seeing them 24/7. However, the thing I will miss least is the excessive amounts of exams.
What do you wish you did differently?
I don’t wish I did anything differently. I had an incredible journey at Herzlia, and despite many ups and downs, those were the things that made it what it was and why my journey was so successful.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
I am hopeful for my future because I know that no matter where I go in the world, there will always be another Herzlian/ Jew who I can go to. Herzlia’s community spreads far across the globe, and I have been given the tools to get in touch with those in places I may end up.
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
The best advice I got from my favourite teacher was to just keep going. No matter how challenging or draining things become, keep going because you are one step closer to the end than you are to the start. Sometimes it’s easier to keep climbing the mountain than to go back down and climb it all again another day.
What are the biggest challenges facing teenagers today?
The biggest challenge facing teenagers today is that we have people mentoring/guiding us who don’t understand what it is like to be a teenager in the 21st century. We often feel misunderstood or unseen/unheard, because the way we approach things is unconventional. We are a new generation of thinkers who prefer newer, faster and more innovative methods of getting things done, rather than what worked 20 years ago.
SAM BAGRAIM
Herzlia High School
What about your matric year surprised you the most?
It went by quicker than I expected. I was focused on each day, and suddenly it was over.
What are the most important things you learnt at school OUTSIDE of class?
I learned that consistency will take you further than natural ability. I learned to ask for help instead of pretending I had everything handled. I also realised that how you work with people matters almost as much as the work itself.
What will you miss most and least from your school days?
I’ll miss the friendships, the support from teachers, and the sense of community. I won’t miss the early mornings and some subjects
What do you wish you did differently?
I wish I had planned more. A bit more structure would have made the tough weeks easier and opened up space to enjoy the year instead of always catching up.
What makes you hopeful/ fearful for your future?
I’m hopeful because our generation has more tools, ideas, and opportunities than ever before. I’m also aware of how quickly the world is changing, which can be unsettling. My goal is to be able to adapt and keep learning so I can navigate whatever comes next.
What’s the best advice you ever got from your favourite teacher?
“Fail to plan, plan to fail.” One of my teachers said it half-jokingly after I forgot a homework assignment, but it stuck. It made me realise that planning simply gives you a fair chance to succeed.
What are the biggest challenges facing teenagers today?
Teenagers deal with pressure from school, social media, and expectations that feel endless. It’s easy to compare yourself to everyone around you. Learning to ignore the noise and focus on your own path is one of the biggest challenges and one of the most important skills.
