Last week’s Herald showcased some incredible performers. Wow.
They interest me far less, however, than the students who didn’t appear.

The students who aren’t weighed down by scrolls and expectations, or a premature and false sense of importance and entitlement.
In high school, one of my classmates was a rebellious girl from ‘difficult circumstances’ in a far off city. She was sent to boarding school to keep her out of trouble. The only time the spotlight was on her was when she was an inter-high cheerleader – for the rest of the time, she was under the glare of interrogation for various assumed transgressions, all based on her escaping the mould.
In matric, our principal told her not to bother to go to a career exhibition, as she would probably end up in jail before a career (a true story – those were ruthless times).
Ten years later, with no accolades, no degree, and no adoring fans, she became the highest-paid female executive on the African continent and until today has international corporates begging for her services.
She was underestimated because she didn’t fit into a lunch box, neatly packaged, to be consumed by society at will. Her parents didn’t pay someone to write her speeches for her, or say inane things like ‘WE have a project to complete”. Ignored by the mainstream, she had the room to find her own unique strengths and build on them.
The modern workplace isn’t crying out for the automatons of the ’80s and ’90s. The world wants flexibility, resilience, and innovation – and these are not going to be found by colouring between the lines.
Badges are beautiful and credit to students who put in hard work or training to achieve them. Ultimately, however, your success will depend on how you cope when authority isn’t hovering and when you need the grit often acquired through struggle.
For a moment, let’s celebrate the students on the edge of the spotlight and even in its shadows and whisper to them, “We see you, too”.