Choose to stay positive and work hard

It was long past midnight but the newspaper truck had not yet arrived. I was waiting in a line of two or three when it finally did.

This small group watched anxiously as a man brought the delivery in. The moment all formalities had finished, we grabbed a copy, rushing past the front pages to find what we were looking for: our matric results.

It has been many years since matriculants participated in this tradition. My class was one of the last of the era, but the anticipation of waiting to see if you passed is still there.

It was felt by thousands of school leavers this week when IEB and NSC results were released, and it will still be felt in 12 years when those who started “big school” on Wednesday get theirs.

It is a sokkie of emotions. The anxiety, relief and then either hope or dread for a future largely unknown.

For one of the first times of many in the next decade, you are largely on your own to make decisions that impact your future.

The guardrails and training wheels are off and you determine what you make of your life

This often comes with the assumption that you will make a massive success of yourself, a weight of expectation that can be crippling.

You may feel as if yours must be a ragsto-riches, or continue-the-dynasty story. You may feel overwhelmed at the commitment of black tax and the task of carrying your family’s name and legacy when you can barely make sense of the world yourself.

These are normal emotions. Be assured, the light will be there at the end of the tunnel and there is always help. Regardless of whether you study further or go straight into the workforce, there are trained people to talk to both on campus and via free services like the South African Depression and Anxiety Group’s helplines. They provide guidance and hope, whether in person, on the phone or on WhatsApp.

The pressure to succeed can lead to several faking qualifications, as in the case of bogus doctor Matthew Lani, and questions this week about the qualifications of economist Thabi Leoka.

Remember, like in your exams, in life you will get out what you put in.

While your circumstances may not be great, many have walked the path before and overcome hardship.

You’ve got this far and achieved so much already.

You are built to win your race, not to please others.

Choose to stay positive and work hard, even if it means you are only in a queue of two or three. And be assured there is a much larger queue cheering you on.

You are built to win your race, not to please others