National basketball colours were awarded to former Saheti School learner Shannon Starroula Tassopoulos.
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She recently passed her matric with seven distinctions and has plans to continue playing the sport.
Her journey with basketball started when she was in Grade Five, and to her surprise, it has just kept growing.
“I really got into it because of the coaches and realised the more I played the better I became at it.
“I have done other sports but I chose basketball as I just felt like I am the best at it and wanted to pursue it further,” said Shannon.
Her biggest achievement to date is making it to the U18 South African team last year.
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The team had an opportunity to compete in Lesotho, securing the second position, but had to forfeit due to Covid-19.
Lessons from participating in sports include, “Getting back up every time you fall figuratively and literally.
“It is important to know that you are bigger than your biggest challenge.
“You can definitely push through and that’s helped me even in academics. Telling yourself that it’s not the end, you can definitely pull through.”
Shannon said even on your worst days to keep in mind that persistence is what gets you there.
“If you want to do it you need to keep working at it and don’t beat yourself too much.
“Don’t be like I will play here and there, commit yourself,” she said.
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