Shailin Moodley from Crawford International Sandton urged the class of 2025 to be tenacious and have grit after he achieved 10 distinctions for the 2024 IEB matric cohort.
“I always emphasise the importance of tenacity and grit in challenging periods. Maintaining the belief that your goals are obtainable is instrumental to eventual success,” said Moodley.
Being among the top achievers at his school, with an astounding academic performance, Moodley said the intensity she experienced in matric was worthwhile.
“The 2024 year began with jubilation as the excitement of my final year of high school settled. I encountered numerous challenges, such as managing a strenuous workload and balancing academics among other activities. However, these hurdles allowed for profound learning moments and lessons that I will use throughout my life,” said Moodley.
The 19-year-old explained the drastic shift to remote learning from traditional in-person teaching when starting high school at the height of Covid-19 shaped her academic milestones.
Learning online forced him to maintain a disciplined academic behaviour.
“The Covid-19 pandemic inflicted a plethora of challenges, ranging from diminished teaching time to the difficulties of learning in an online fashion.
“However, it eventually instilled a sense of accountability and discipline in me, shaping my growth and achievements in the years since the pandemic.
“Though 2020 was radically different and demanding, it provided an invaluable opportunity for development,” said Moodley.
Moodley highlighted that he experienced growth in his personal life, academics and extracurricular activities as a piano player.
“My 2024 consisted of three primary milestones: academic, extracurricular and personal development. Academically, I felt comfortable and confident in my abilities, which reflected throughout the year.
“In 2024, I performed in the Johannesburg Music Festival, a Trinityhouse Eisteddfod, and completed both Trinity College London performance grades 4 and 5 with distinction. On a personal level, my perseverance and resilience were tested and subsequently developed,” he said.
Moodley’s career aspirations point towards studying Actuarial Science at UCT.
“Actuarial Science naturally attracted me, because I have a vocation for solving business problems using quantitative actuarial methods. Since risk is prevalent in most industries, from insurance to investments, the ability to quantify risk is essential to make informed and substantiated decisions.
“Risk management is incredibly diverse, which could be helpful should I venture into other career paths, such as entrepreneurship,” said Moodley.
The Star