The school had just been opened; it was fancy, even better than that private school I was in. I got there early March and it was tough. My grandpa made sure I had everything I needed from full school uniform, stationery and transport money to lunch. I made friends quickly because I was the centre of attention. They liked the fact that I was from Johannesburg. Most chicks hated on me though for no good reason and well, on the other hand the guys adored me.

My first day in class was okay but changed when I had to take Xitsonga classes. I didn’t know it very well and I found it hard to even concentrate in the class. The first term I failed and just because I failed Xitsonga classes they failed me. Well it was Xitsonga or nothing. If you failed it you failed everything else. I didn’t know that it was that important. Back in Johannesburg I took Afrikaans classes and to my surprise they seemed easier than Tsonga classes. Throughout the year I nailed the other terms with practice and dedication.

I was already achieving well in my grades. I guess the environmental change was good for me. I enjoyed school so much that I never missed a class. The only problem I had was Maths and Physical Sciences. I hated these subjects because I was never good at them and I didn’t understand half of the things. I generally didn’t deal well with something that challenged me like these two subjects. I would always crack my head studying all night for tests that I would only get a pass mark for or even worse, fail the tests.

My year at Sevengwana High was the best though.

The friends, teachers, environment and memories were the best. So all the other kids who didn’t know me thought I was a snob. I would always get snide remarks because of the way I walked and talked. It didn’t bother me a lot but the attention they gave me was rather appalling. People would spend their whole school year watching you like a hawk, waiting, waiting and waiting for your downfall. They would even start rumours that didn’t even add up but I’d never let it get to me.

It just scared me that people would be so indulged in your life to the point that they forget about theirs. I mean I wasn’t a beauty queen or anything better than them. I was just an ordinary girl who just wanted to finish school.

So the day of the results I first searched for my friends and unfortunately they were nowhere to be found. So I decided to stand in line for my statement like the others. That’s where your phone and earphones are a must have in those type of situations. Luckily I had my set with, so I plugged the earphones in and saved the day. The line moved rather slowly but still my friends were nowhere.

When my turn came to take my results it was a mission. Apparently there was R350 that most of us owed for computer classes that we didn’t even take. So I was to get my results by first paying the money. I was so disappointed. When I thought my years of high school were finally over and my statement was my getaway, only to find out that I was not getting the statement.

I called my grandma, knowing that she didn’t have that kind of money on her. To my surprise, she was in town when I called, buying a cake for me and groceries. Grandpa had sent us money just because I passed. I told her about the R350 they wanted and she told me not to worry and that she’d be at school in 30 minutes. I waited for her under the shade while watching others jump in excitement when getting their statements.

I got a call from mum who apologised for not picking up earlier because she was busy with a patient. Yes, my mum was now a nurse thank God but the salary was not really that good. She congratulated me, she was proud too. It even sounded like she was crying over the phone. She asked if I got my statement and I told her about the R350. She was flat broke but said she’d see what she can do. We said our goodbyes and I carried on waiting for grandma to pitch.

Time alone got me thinking of what I was going to do next now that I was done with school.

My plan was to study Psychology but since I loved traveling, Tourism was my second option. Ever since I was young I wanted to study stuff like Photography, Design and Tourism. I was that type of girl. Psychology was the only serious side of me. So I was there thinking of a place to study Tourism and MSC came to mind. It was in Kempton Park and my brother had attended there too. I was also familiar with the place since I attended my high school there.

Grandma arrived while I was so deep in my thought. I made my way to the school gates to help her out because she had a lot of plastics. We then left the plastics with the lady who sold food at school. We went to the office and gran paid up and I got my statement. Finally, I felt so lucky to have my grandparents. I called my mum and told her that I got the statement and she let out a sigh of relief.

We made our way home and that’s when I realised that my friends were still MIA (missing in action) and it worried me.

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Tell us what you think: How did you find out about your matric results?