KZN matric achievers hold back tears

EMOTIONS ran high at Durban’s independent schools yesterday when some of the top achievers learnt that they had excelled in the 2017 matric exams.

Eden College’s Renata Jairam was overcome with emotion when she found out she had aced her exams.

Renata, who got nine distinctions, fought back tears as she described how on edge she had been for the last couple of days. “I’m so relieved. I’ve been a wreck,” she said.

“She hasn’t slept since Monday,” her equally emotional mother said.

Renata said her matric year had been bitter-sweet. “The emotional side of it had me really stressed, just thinking about how this was it.”

Inspired by her paediatrician, Renata hoped to study medicine at the University of Pretoria (UP) this year.

Her classmate, Tyrell Pillay, was equally as ecstatic with his marks. And he, like Renata, got nine distinctions. “I’m so excited and just so grateful to God,” he said. “I’ve been praying for excellent results.”

Tyrell described matric as “challenging”. “The amount of work and doing nine subjects – sometimes I got too caught up,” he said.

But he said music had helped him through.

The piano was a welcome escape when he felt overwhelmed.

“I’m still deciding what to do this year, but I might study music,” he said. “I might also do medicine or astrophysics.”

Tyrell planned on studying at either UCT or the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Star College Girls’ High School’s Taruna Rambaros said yesterday that she was relieved.

“I was worried,” she said, “particularly about English.”

She got eight As, including one for English.

Taruna is studying actuarial science at UCT this year.

“My love for maths inspired me,” she said, “Maths was my favourite subject so actuarial science felt like a perfect fit.”

Classmate Tasha Govender was in a state of disbelief. She scored seven As and an invitation to the Department of Basic Education’s special awards ceremony at the ICC today.

“I just can’t believe it, I’m so excited,” she said. “I didn’t expect this – it’s a big surprise.”

Tasha is headed to Stellenbosch University to study actuarial science this year.

Vyakta Panday, another Star College pupil, obtained eight distinctions and is studying chartered accounting at UP this year.

At Star College Boys’ High School, Tyrique Byroo, who scored eight distinctions, said he had been anxious for weeks.

“It’s definitely a relief but I won’t be fully relieved until I have my results in my hand,” he said.

Tyrique is studying medicine at UCT this year.

And Tarendra Moodley, who also scored eight As, was “really excited”. He was still deciding what he would be studying this year.

Bevan Naidoo was speechless.

“I just need a moment to process this,” he said.

He is studying engineering this year either at Wits or UP.