JASON SPYRIDES

APP DESIGNER & ENTREPRENEUR 

Jason Spyrides, class of 2015, shares his story, tracing his growth from his Moriah days to his present work. He spoke candidly about the impact of his time at Moriah, sharing that one of the things he took away was the lifelong friendships that continue to shape his life today.

You have somewhat of a mixed identity. Tell us about that.

I was born in Johannesburg and lived there for two years before we moved briefly to Switzerland, and then on to Hong Kong for about eight years. That’s where you and I crossed paths. I was young when I left Hong Kong, but the memories are still vivid; everything felt so big! After that, we moved to Sydney, so I’ve always had a bit of a mixed identity. When people ask where I’m from, it’s hard to answer. Aussies say I don’t sound super Australian, and when I’m overseas, people say I’m very Australian, so it’s a bit of a weird one.

Was the mixed identity something that many of the Moriah students identified with?

That’s a good question. Moriah was approximately 50% South African, so there was definitely a cultural overlap. But I did feel like I had an extra layer of difference because of my time in Hong Kong. So, while I could relate to others with mixed backgrounds, I always felt slightly more removed.

Did you go on IST?

I did, and it was a special time. Just being with everyone, exploring Israel and Poland. Poland especially was intense. At 16, you’re still pretty mischievous, but suddenly you’re in this really serious environment. It shifted something in all of us. You hear your peers sharing their families' stories and it changes the way you see them, and you bond over that. It’s a powerful experience.

What were you like at school?

I definitely had my phases. Early on, I was that kid whose parents got all the dreaded calls from teachers. Parent-teacher nights weren’t great, and I was grounded a lot. But over time I matured, the feedback improved, and I started taking school seriously, especially in the later years. My relationships with teachers got better too.

You graduated in 2015. What came next?

Like many Moriah graduates, I took a gap year. I spent about 8 months working at a call centre with a few mates to save up, that was fun. No homework, just clock in and out. Then we travelled for six months, starting in Israel and making our way through Europe. It was an amazing time. I came back and enrolled in commerce at UNSW. I’ve always liked studying, but I was put off by the idea of a five-year degree. I wanted to start working. Uni was a very different experience from school. There was no real sense of community. I didn’t make many new friends at uni, but that didn’t bother me, I still had my close Moriah group. We’re still a tight 15-person crew. It made me realise how unique the Moriah community really is. 

You’ve now developed an app to help with nicotine addiction. Tell us about that.

The app is called Weanie, a bit of a controversial name, but the aim is to help people gradually wean off nicotine. Like many in my generation, I was a smoker. I tried patches, going cold turkey and it was miserable. I wanted to create something that didn’t feel so anxiety-inducing. The app helps you cut back a little each day, and that worked really well for me and my partner. It’s a more manageable way to quit. It’s for smoking and vaping, with the aim to eventually expand to other addictions like social media, sugar, any addiction really. Because quitting cold turkey is hard, and life already throws enough at you. The goal is to make it feel like the app is on your side.

What are you seeing trending with teens today?

Zyns are very popular right now. It’s a nicotine pouch that fits into your gum, no smell, no vapour, completely hidden. That’s the scary part. Cigarettes and even vapes at least have a scent, people could tell. Zyns lets you hide addiction completely, and that’s a worrying trend.

What advice do you have for parents, teachers and teens about this?

The tricky part with Zyns is that it feels invisible. No smell or smoke to give it away. But it's not actually invisible. If you really want to know who is using, just ask them to smile! The gums don't lie (the pouch will poke out). For educators and parents, the focus shouldn't just be on catching kids but on showing them how they're being marketed to. When kids see that the so called "healthy" alternative is really just billion-dollar companies taking advantage of them, it's easier for them to recognise that they're, in fact, the ones being played.

Moving onto lighter topics, what house were you in at Moriah?

Herzl — go the greens!

What was your favourite school event or tradition?

I absolutely loved the carnivals - swimming, athletics and mufti days too.

Did you have a favourite spot on campus?

Probably the basketball courts. We’d go there to burn off energy, play handball and just let loose after class.

Who was your favourite teacher?

It changed over the years. I had great relationships with a lot of teachers. Mr Busuttil for Maths was brilliant. Everyone loved Mr Manocchio for Economics and Business. Miss Walsh was interesting. I was a menace in her class early on, and we clashed. But she later became my mentor in Year 11 and 12, and we built an amazing connection. She really helped me finish strong.

Is there something you wish you’d done differently at school?

I wish I’d reached out more. I should have connected with people beyond my immediate friend group. It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone, but you miss out that way and I wish I had known this back then.

What advice would you give current students?

Don’t take everything too seriously. There’s pressure from everywhere - friends, parents, academics - and it adds up. So my advice would be to work hard, but make sure you enjoy it too. You don’t get those years back.

Do you have any parting thoughts?

I think that Moriah is in really good hands. As long as you’re leading the school, Mira, I know that you will do what’s best for the students and the future of the College.