The glitz and glamour of matric farewells

With matric farewells for some schools already taking place, some still have to wait for another month or two while the anticipation slowly builds up to the big day. Matric farewells are considered important events in every school-leaver's high school education journey and it is on every learner's mind. Mostly girls look forward to these events compared to boys as females tend to care more about their appearance. When it comes to preparing for matric farewells, there are quite a few things that go into planning like your outfit, your hair, nails, and the car that would be escorting you, the photographer and who would be standing next to you as you enter the matric farewell venue. Most girls have started thinking of, whether they would opt to buy or design their dresses for that special day that marks the end of their school career. Most parents are against matric farewells, because they have to fork out a lot of money to make sure their children look the best. “Matric farewells are organised by the school to say goodbye after 12 years of hard work. You are ending a certain stage of your life and entering a new one,” says Ellen Gudde, principal of St Paul's College in Windhoek. Gudde added that in society, it is a norm to celebrate certain milestones like birthdays, weddings and graduations so “matric farewells are also celebratory events.” She however explained to The Zone that matric farewells in today's world sometimes go overboard and children put a lot of pressure on their parents to make sure they look their best. “Matric farewells are not entirely there to say goodbye as the final exams are still to be written and most learners miss the mark,” she added. Gudde matriculated in the 1960's and she shared that she also had a matric farewell party adding, “it was not extravagant at all.” Matric farewells of that time were hosted in school halls and less money was spent when it became to organise the event. “As a principal, I am not directly involved with the planning of the matric farewell as it organised by the head of Grade 12, relevant teachers and the learners themselves. It exerts a lot of financial pressure, especially on the parents so we have to make sure that the farewells do not affect the academics of our learners. That is why most matric farewells are done during the first week of the school holiday after the August mock exams. This is because we want our learners to have ample time to prepare for their final exams which commence in September. Gudde advised parents that they should put their foot down and they should not let their children dictate what must come out of their pockets. Matric farewell spending has shot to more than N$8 000 as teens continue to go all out on this milestone. Where does all the money go? The Zone conducted a survey and found out that girls spent an average of N$1500 on a dress, N$600 to get their hair done and N$550 on their makeup. In addition, they fork out N$450 for shoes and N$350 on jewellery. Other matric farewells costs are likely to include car rentals, tuxedo rentals and dining. Kristofina Iiyambo, a psychologist explained to The Zone that most teenagers go through immense pressure to try and make everything about their matric farewells perfect. “Matric farewells do not have to be your most favourite day of your high school experience. Honestly, I think events of this type are overrated.” She also added that matric farewells make learners materialistic and they focus on the wrong things. “You spend thousands on a dress that you will probably never wear again. It is literally just so you look good in pictures.”Iiyambo added that although the matric farewell night fill one with anticipation, she urged teenagers to always be safe. These nights are known for drinking and young people find themselves in situations where the pressure to join is intense and irresistible. After their night, some teenagers hit the clubs and these indulgencies can turn ugly in a split second. The teenagers usually drive under the influence of alcohol and they drive at high speeds. Iiyambo suggests that parents should have open conversations with their children to warn them about falling victim to peer pressure. “Do not wait until prom night to talk with your kids. As a parent, you need to reassure your children that if they find themselves in a situation they know they should not be in, tell them to call no matter how complex the situation is. Let us also remember that underaged drinking is illegal.”She also advised parents to set a curfew. “It may be lenient, but teens should not be out all night. They must come home before the crazy stuff happens,” Iiyambo advised. “You also need to have blunt conservations with your teenagers about sex on prom night. Even if it seems embarrassing, nights like these always involve sexual intercourse and teenagers are most likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Make sure your teen understands that “no means no. Pre-arrange cab fare and make sure your teen knows how to get transport to reach home safely.”Matric farewells are goodbyes for teenagers organised by their respective schools, so Iiyambo warns parents and teenagers not to get caught up in undesirable situations at such events, but to focus on making sweet memories with close friends and prepare well for final examinations, saying life after high school is an on-going process that prepares them for adulthood. TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA

The glitz and glamour of matric farewells

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-10

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The glitz and glamour of matric farewells

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-10

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