‘Heart of a lion’ matric learner defies the odds to achieve big
Keean was diagnosed with Dyspraxia, Dyslexia and ADHD. In 2020 he managed to pass matric during lockdown and secured himself an exciting career in 2021.
A young man who had to work extra hard, has now grown into an exemplary individual who many can learn a lot from.
Keean Vermaak has had a rough start to his schooling career when he was diagnosed with Dyspraxia by a speech therapist at a very young age.
His mother and father are in awe of their young champion, saying they always knew their extraordinary kid would break the barriers of being an “in the box child”, never accepting things just because others say so. They knew he would grow up to be unique, full of confidence and smart, someone with the “heart of a lion”.
“This is what one of his rugby coaches told me when I was scared to have him play the sport. He was much smaller than the rest of the players, but everybody from his teachers, his coaches, family members and friends, we all had faith in this child,” his mother Shevaun told Rekord.
In grade 3 when Keean was diagnosed with ADHD, his parents decided to move him from Southdowns College to a remedial school called Cedarwood College where he completed the remainder of grades 3, 4, 5 and 6.
“Here he absolutely thrived. He walked away with all the sports awards for soccer and cricket and was house captain as well as sports captain. He also played soccer for Kwemo soccer club and was named the second highest goal scorer in the whole of Tshwane at the age of 10,” Shevaun said.
After returning to Southdowns College in grade 7 where he completed grades 8 and 9 as well, it became evident to his parents that he was not coping well and they decided to start homeschooling Keean.
“Although he was being homeschooled, Keean kept on playing first team rugby for Southdowns and he was selected for Provincial Touch Rugby for North Gauteng for three years until Covid hit.”
“In grade 8 Keean was diagnosed with Dyscalculia, Dyslexia and anxiety and we applied for him to be exempt from taking mathematics as a compulsory subject.”
Keean has an attitude of “never say never” and if you say he won’t be able to do something, he will try until he gets it done.
“He had this absolute determination that he would succeed and show everyone that he can do it even though he struggled some times.”
Keean’s parents are incredibly supportive and encourages him in everything he does.
“We never once spoke down to Keean and always told him what a great kid he is, how special he is and that he is going to make a difference in this world,” she added.
“We have never missed a single school function or event and have travelled with him for provincials and we were at every single rugby match or sports function.
“We raised him to question things and not to be afraid of giving his opinion or speaking his mind but to always be mindful, respectful and to always have a reason for why he is saying what he is saying. His motto in life is ‘why fit in when I was born to stand out’ and he has lived by this every day of his life,” Shevaun said.
Keean and his family realise there are children who also struggle to get outstanding marks in school, or who struggle with disorders like Dyslexia.
“To those kids, we just want to say, ‘Don’t ever give up or lose hope’. You are fantastic, you are wonderful and you are capable.
“Parents need to listen and observe their children and they need to put their kids into a school that suites them and their needs. It may be a school with smaller classes, it may be a home-school environment but never ever give up on what is best for your kid.”
Keean adores all kinds of sports and he isn’t at his happiest if he can’t partake in sport.
One day he would like to join the Royal Marines.
“At the moment, Keean is coaching swimming at Orcas swim school. He has completed his swim dynamics instructors training course and is also currently doing a lifeguard course through Tuks,” she said.
“He is leaving on 16 May for three months to work at a summer camp in Arizona USA which he is super excited about. He has been employed as part of the water sports crew.
He will be back at Orcas in August. He wants to complete another summer camp in 2022 and then will hopefully get a job on a cruise liner as he wants to tour and meet people and learn about the different cultures. He’s such a people’s person,” Shevaun concluded.
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