Journey to the summit of their careers starts here

NIETGEDACHT – The grade 10s, 11s and 12s of HeronBridge College got to learn a bit about life after school at this year's career summit. Read all about it here.

January 30, 2018

Robyn Kirk 2 minutes read

Thantaswe Siala and his mother Andani say Thantaswe is still deciding what he wants to do after school, but that he was considering entering a business career. Photo: Robyn Kirk

As any adult can tell you, it can be difficult to figure out what you want to do with your life as the end of your school journey looms.

That’s why HeronBridge College hosted its sixth annual Career Summit on the morning of 27 January.

The summit, hosted in the school’s baobab auditorium, was attended by about 250 HeronBridge schoolchildren in grades 10, 11 and 12. It offered a glimpse into life once school has finished, and more than 20 higher education providers and 30 professionals attended.

Terry van Roouen and her daughter Jemma (in Grade 11) say the summit was very informative. Photo: Robyn Kirk

“Today is a community gathering for students, parents and professionals,” said Tasmyn Jewell, the subject head of life orientation at the school and the summit’s organiser. “We wanted the students to know what is available to them in the world after school had ended. After all, it does take a village to raise a child.”

First on the agenda was a lecture by guest speaker Reverend Shona Fleming, an arch-deacon and rector of St Mark’s Church in North Riding, about the challenges and joys of entering the working world.

The head of the college Keith Wilke and a few other staff members also addressed the audience, and then it was time for the children and parents to walk around and investigate the various stalls that had been set up.

This stall run by Scholarship International was popular with the children and families, as paying for a tertiary education can be difficult. Photo: Robyn Kirk

Among the institutions present on the day were City Varsity, the University of the Witwaterstrand, Rhodes University and Varsity College. Children could also learn from professionals such as engineers, paramedics and social workers present on the day about job fields that they might be interested in.

“I want the children to understand that school isn’t everything and that they will have a life after it is done,” added Jewell.

Thantaswe Siala, who is in Grade 11 this year and attended the summit with his mother Andani, said, “The summit has been very interesting, but I’m still deciding what I want to do after school.

“I’m thinking that I might be interested in entering the world of business.”

There were a few familiar faces at the summit including Sharron Dingle of Hirsch’s Fourways, and Kate Walsh who has recently entered the world of motivational speaking.