Saheti’s top achiever, Jason Barbis, credited the support of his family, classmates and teachers for bagging nine distinctions and achieving an astounding 98% average for the IEB’s 2024 matric exams.
Jason managed to cement himself as a mathematician by receiving both 100% in Mathematics and Life Orientation.
The 18-year-old described the academic year as a blend of nerves and excitement, while being faced with mounts of unprecedented school work.
Despite a surge in academic work, Jason’s highlight was a dedicated team of teachers and the support of family behind his back.
“The Saheti family made this seemingly unconquerable task possible. The countless hours spent with teachers, to the early morning tutorials, and the late-night motivation from my own family made this year all the more manageable,” said Jason.
Among other lifetime memories during the difficult year, Jason said his class had become a close knit family.
“The most standout experience was simply getting to spend and savour the time that I had with my Grade. Over the course of high school, our Grade grew in closeness, and by the time of matric, we truly became a family,” he said.
While struggling to grasp the shift from primary to high school, starting Grade 8 during peak Covid-19 in 2020 was daunting.
Jason noted that adapting to online learning was a challenge, which affected his academic experience.
“The jump in workload from primary to high school cannot be understated, and this stress was exacerbated by our inability to interact with teachers in person. I performed well because of the dedication of the teachers in ensuring that we were provided with all the tools and information necessary to carry on our academic journey online,” said Jason.
Jason’s future academic endeavours lie between being a Wits or University of Cape Town student, and pursuing a Maths related course.
“Maths has always been an integral part of my life. I have spoken to many experienced relatives, friends, teachers and mentors about various degrees involving Maths, such as Actuarial Science and Applied Mathematics. I am in the process of making the final decision,” he said.
He’s also hopeful for tapping into his artistic self by pursing a career in acting and performing arts.
The Star