More than 250 Tafelsig High pupils explored options for their future during a career day at the school on Friday last week.
City law enforcement and traffic officials and TV actor Brandon Marnevil, who matriculated from Tafelsig High in 2017 and runs his own film production company, were among those who spoke to the pupils about career options.
The expo was organised by Jonas McCarthy, the founder of Dream Again, a non-profit organisation that offers young people career guidance, job readiness training and mentorship.
“Previously, there were not as many career opportunities available to young people like today. You either had to go into nursing, work at a retail store or factory. Now young people have access to many more careers,” Mr McCarthy said.
“Someone opened a door for me when I matriculated in 2012. When I attended my first career expo in Bonteheuwel, I saw what good it did to that community. Our coloured community should know that they can go and study and pursue their dreams.
“Everything I do in life is to allow people to dream again, whether you are young or old. You’re not too old or young to go and study, not too off the market to go back and pursue your dreams.
“People look at dreams and think that they are far fetched. I am living proof that dreams do become a reality. I didn’t allow my circumstances and being born under a bridge in Hanover Park to stop me from pursuing my dreams.”
Tafelsig High Grade 12 head Paulina Cloete said children entering the school should have a vision and purpose. “They must know that they can strive towards their dreams,” she said.
Ms Cloete lives in Tafelsig and said she could identify with the daily struggled her pupils faced.
“In the area we live in, every day is about surviving, but we want to teach our kids that there is a life that’s bigger than our area. And that if they stay focused and believe in their dreams and work hard, anything is possible.”
Grade 11 pupil Tobie Visagie, who wants to become an advocate, said the expo had been helpful and motivating.
“I took the inspiring words personally to become something better and strive towards achieving my goals,” he said.
Tamica Fritz, also in Grade 11, wants to become an au-pair one day. “The information shared was eye-opening and let us know that we don’t have to go into gangsterism,” she said.
Chloë Dewey was still unsure about her future career, but said: “Today was inspiring to most of us. It gave us hope and let us know that it doesn’t matter where we come from but where we are going in life.”
Kezia Gordon, who wants to become a law enforcement officer, said that despite one’s circumstances, “you can still achieve and become whatever you want to in life”.
It was hard living in Tafelsig, but it was important to not give up hope, she added.
“There is a lot of hope and time in life. Even though people say life is too short, young people should not think about that. They should think about the positive side of life,” she said.
