WATCH: Former Bracken High learner proves hard work produces great results
A Brackendowns resident has set the bar high by obtaining seven distinctions with 90+ passes per subject and plans to be one of the top achievers at the University of the Witwatersrand and graduate cum laude at the end of the programme.
Former Bracken High matriculant Jayden Harold (18) has made the community proud, including the school and his parents, after being labelled the smartest 2022 matriculant in the district at the Ekurhuleni South District Matric Awards.
Jayden matriculated at Bracken High School last year. He garnered distinctions in accounting, Afrikaans FAL, business studies, English HL, life orientation, life sciences and mathematics, with a total grade average of 93.3%.
According to Jayden, the primary school he attended, Glenview Primary School, played a significant role in ensuring he became the student he is today. If it were not for his primary school, he would have been a different individual, and he does not want to imagine what type of person he would have been if he was not exposed to that side of primary school life.
Hard work pays off
Jayden told the Alberton Record that during his foundation phase years, he got low marks, and that raised much concern for him because his peers got rewarded for achieving good marks.
“One day, I asked my mom why other learners’ parents get summoned to school to see their children get certificates and awards, but mine are not, and my parents explained what I needed to do to also be rewarded. I did exactly that, and that’s when this hardworking Jayden was born,” he said.
Jayden said the most stressful subject for him in high school was accounting.
“I paid so much of my academic attention to accounting, and on the day of the matric results, I longed to see the accounting marks more than any others. When I fetched my matric statement, the accounting marks were the highest marks on it – a total of 99%,” Jayden explained.
High school to university transition
After completing his matric with great results, Jayden went to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) to study computational and applied mathematics.
He was announced as one of the top 100 new applicants students at Wits.
He said he enjoys varsity and although it has only been the first block of semester one, is happy with the marks of this first quarter. The lowest mark he has got thus far is 76%.
Jayden admitted it is difficult to adjust to time at a tertiary institution because it differs from his familiarity with high school.
“To overcome this difficulty, I try adjusting to the pace of varsity life and looking forward to the next block of the semester. I understand that if you can’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes a sacrifice, so I push myself hard to adjust to the new life,” Jayden explained.
The creative academic
Being a top achiever academically, Jayden emphasised the importance of a work-life balance. When he is not working hard on academics, he spends his time on creative writing.
He has produced, directed and written a school play called Limbo, won several item winner awards at Bracken High School in unprepared poetry, prescribed poetry, short story and essay writing in Grades 11 and 12 and was editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper.
His hobbies include writing and acting because it helps him stay sane and cope with the stresses of being a university student.
“Once I have settled and adjusted to varsity life, my peers and I intend to put together more creative pieces of work because we all enjoy being creative,” said Jayden.
Proud parents
Jayden’s mom, Rooksana Harold, said she is fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom and loved being so close to him as the one who dropped Jayden at school and fetched him.
“It is important for parents to be supportive of their children in all the ways they can because this brings confidence to children and makes them achieve whatever they are willing to do with great results. I always tell him that his best is always enough, and he surely has used my advice,” said Rooksana.
Both parents of the 18-year-old are proud of his achievements and look forward to more. They promised to be behind him all the time.
Jayden’s plans and words to his peers
Because Jayden’s studies are funded by Vodacom, he wants to work for them. He is willing to specialise in data science to ensure his dreams come true. To him, this would mean paying back his thanks to the Vodacom team.
Jayden’s word to his peers: Always learn from your previous experiences and always work extra hard to achieve everything your heart might long for.
