MATRIC RESULTS: Will they help learners open a door, or will they have to build a new door?

Matric results don’t define who you are, what job you will ultimately do, or how successful you will be; but they do determine the very next choice that you make and the direction your first year of adult life will take.?

I have been a matric mom twice. I know what it feels like to sit on edge of your seat, waiting for those results. It is a nail- biting time when the next step your child takes in life is determined by one set of exams. It’s not a system I like, but it is the system we are currently stuck with. Always bear in mind that matric, and school per se, is just one way of measuring a learner, but not the only way.?

So much time, energy, effort and focus goes into passing matric by learners, their parents and teachers. Once it’s done and access to the next step is provided or denied, no-one ever asks you for those results again. Hopefully, there was deeper learning going on than just being able to pass a set of examinations. That’s real education!

?Advice for those families with a matriculant:?

• If they nailed it, well done; enjoy the moment and the result of the combination of good attitude, sufficient effort and skill.?
• If they didn’t nail it, you may be spending the next few days looking for a different door for them to access their future; plan B or C. This may not be what you or they had planned, but maybe it’s what they need.?
• I’ve been in both camps as a parent: both the nailed it and didn’t nail it. Regardless of where you find yourself right now, it’s nerve-wracking; it’s exciting; it may even be disappointing, but it’s also an ending and a new beginning for everyone.

?Very important to note:?

• Even learners with fantastic results are not guaranteed a place in the course of their choice at university today, due to limited intakes for specific courses or quotas. This can be incredibly frustrating. They too, will find themselves looking at alternative pathways to get closer to where they want to be.
• Sometimes, taking a different path can be the making of a person. Personally, I have often chosen to take the path less travelled.?Unconventional journeys as well as interesting and unusual combinations of studies and experiences are what will make your child an attractive hire in the workplace one day, rather than having the same stock-standard qualifications and experiences as everyone else.
• Don’t make the error of thinking that micro-certifications and short courses are irrelevant. They may just be the difference that makes the difference between two candidates vying for the same job.
• Constructive gap years can provide extremely valuable life experience and expose your child to options they may have not considered before due to their limited life experience and exposure. Search gap years at?www.nikkibush.com

While it’s true that the better your child’s results, the more choices they may have right now, regardless of their results, they will always get to choose the attitude they move forward with, this is what they truly own. Every matriculant in this cohort has new choices, new goals and new opportunities ahead of them.?

For some, doors will open due to their academic results, while others might need to build their own door. This is not the worst thing that can happen to your child. In fact, if they can learn resilience and resourcefulness through this process, it will stand them in good stead in a fast-changing world.?

Here’s to new beginnings and a fresh start as our youngsters step out into adult life.?

Nikki Bush, Human Potential and Parenting Expert

Co-author of?Future-proof Your Child?and?author of Future-proof Yourself?(both Penguin Random House titles)

www.nikkibush.com