Many learners gathered in various petrol stations in Soweto waiting patiently for midnight to buy newspapers and check how well they did in their matric exams. They were accompanied by friends and family members who assured them that no matter what their results had in store, they still had their backs.

Siphesihle Sibeko, a learner from Curtis Nkodo School of Specialisation, surprised her whole family when she passed with a Bachelor and three distinctions. They were at a petrol station in Naledi where many of her peers gathered. "To be honest this wasn't an easy journey for me. I often suffered from anxiety. At some point I even stopped going to school because I had given up but luckily enough my teacher called my mother and told her that I had been bunking school and it was unlike me." She added that her mother was furious because she believed in her and had high hopes for her. "I knew that my mother wouldn't approve of me bunking school as she always made sure that I had everything I needed when it came to my education. My mom and teacher forced me to join the matric camp and that restored my hope because I was surrounded by my hard-working peers who helped me when I didn't understand something. I'm grateful that I persevered and I had people who came to my rescue when I was self-destructive, "she said. She got distinctions in Accounting, IsiZulu and Life Orientation. "I've been provisionally accepted at UJ and I want to study Accounting Science, "she said.

Siphesihle's mother Makhosi Sibeko who was emotional thanked God for carrying her throughout. "I have four children and Sphe is my last born, all my children have made me proud and passed their matric and tertiary. The pressure was now on her and I knew she wouldn't want to disappoint her family. She came across some hardships in her journey but through God she has reached the end of her schooling journey. We are now looking forward to new beginnings." Siphehle's brother carried her around screaming in excitement while she was emotional. Most of the learners who were there seemed to be happy and were celebrating to a bright future ahead.