Teenagers Honoured

The end of November was my week for seeing teens recognised for their achievements. I wrote previously about the design students. On Saturday 28th it was the turn of high school learners.

This time we were at Treverton College in the Natal Midlands. Parents, pupils and educators had packed the school auditorium to see the 2009 prize winners recognised and the 2010 prefects announced. After an address by The Honourable Monyane Moleleki of Lesotho, the prize winners came up to the stage one by one to receive their trophies and prizes. There was recognition for outstanding academic achievement in all the grades as well as in specific subjects. One pupil in particular walked away with the Dux, four other academic awards as well as one for public speaking. Mr Moleleki, with quite a track record of his own, was clearly in awe of Caitlin’s achievements.

But there was also more. There was an award for chess champion, for the best environmentalist, for best musical performer, for all round sport and for hiking – just to mention a few.

Then there was the part which I think makes the school stand out. There was recognition for those qualities which make the difference between average and impactful – The Good Fellowship Trophy, the Prize for Perseverance, the Award for Character Development and one I loved – “for the pupil who has shown exceptional leadership & genuine empathy towards junior pupils”.

In his talk Mr Moleleki congratulated the prize winners and reminded the others that without them these learners couldn’t have stood out. An amusing reminder that we all have that opportunity.

In fact in this small school of 354 pupils, which competes against schools double or triple their size and holds its own in sport, 54 pupils (15%) represented their province or country in a sport or cultural code during 2009.

They attribute their success to the Outdoor Pursuits programme which exposes pupils to a wide variety of outdoor character building events and to the extensive interhouse competition which builds teamwork, belief in each other, a sense of belonging and the opportunity for each and everyone to share their own talent in the pursuance of a common goal.

A further example that the development of qualities and skills such as focus, perseverance, communication, decision making, consideration, humility, tolerance and self understanding are the foundation for success at any age.

Alison Gitelson | Development tutor, speaker & facilitator