An 18-year-old African student from Soweto, named Siza Gule, has achieved an outstanding academic milestone after graduating from St John’s College in Johannesburg, with an impressive total of nine distinctions in his matriculation examinations.
This exceptional performance earned him admission with a scholarship to the prestigious Harvard University in the United States, a recognition reserved for some of the world’s top-performing students.
Siza Gule achieved an overall average of 94% in South Africa’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, the country’s secondary school–leaving qualification used for entry into higher education. His results place him among the highest achievers nationwide.
He obtained distinctions in English, isiZulu, Life Orientation, Mathematics, French, Physical Sciences, and Dramatic Arts, in which he achieved a perfect score of 100%. In addition, he earned distinctions in Further Studies in Extended Mathematics and Further Studies in English, highlighting both his academic depth and versatility.
Reflecting on his acceptance into Harvard, Gule described the moment as deeply emotional. He said he felt proud, relieved, and grateful, adding that the news of his admission brought him to tears, as it marked a major turning point in his life.
His journey to excellence was not without challenges. Earlier in the year, Gule was forced to stay away from school for about two weeks after suffering from severe headaches, anxiety, and flu-like symptoms. Doctors advised him to rest during this period.
He emphasized that without the strong support of his family and his school, it would have been difficult for him to regain focus and continue pursuing his goals. Despite this setback, he returned with renewed determination and remained fully committed through the final phase of his examinations.
When he finally received his matric results, Gule said he felt a deep sense of relief. After a long period of anticipation and uncertainty, seeing his results lifted a significant psychological burden from his shoulders.
Alongside his academic achievements, Siza Gule also served as head boy at St John’s College. This leadership position required him to balance intense academic pressure with responsibilities toward the school community.
He admitted that the role was sometimes overwhelming, particularly when it came to protecting his mental well-being. However, the experience helped him develop essential skills such as resilience, planning, and self-discipline.
From August 2026, Siza Gule will begin his studies at Harvard University. He plans to explore several fields, including law, politics, theatre, and literature, taking advantage of the university’s flexible liberal arts curriculum.
He explained that he is especially drawn to this multidisciplinary approach, as he has not yet settled on a single career path. In the long term, he hopes to combine his interests in law and politics with his passion for drama, poetry, and literary analysis, areas in which he says he feels most fulfilled.
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