When Harry Potter was challenged by Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody with “Play to your strengths,", like many other teens grappling with big life issues, the adolescent answered, "I haven't got any."
Bryce Dekker of Direction issued the same challenge to 530 Grades 9 and 11 learners at Amaoti No.3 Secondary. During A3’s third Careers Day organised by The Domino Foundation’s Life Skills team. He told the assembled students that just because their classmates had opted for certain subjects, or because their parents wanted them to follow a particular career path, they needed to discover their own strengths and passions. “What subjects come easily to you? Which do you enjoy?” he asked them.
A3 educator Nobuhle Ndlovu commented: “The learners did personality assessments and then, knowing themselves better and how their strong points and interests indicated possible careers, were encouraged to google job opportunities. Too many feel they have little to offer and think they might as well do what others say they ought to study. We are trying to move from the very restricted vision of only considering social work or nursing to exposing learners to much wider possibilities.”
One learner was enthusiastic about what they had discovered about themselves through the three-hour session with Bryce: “I hadn’t realised that there were so many career opportunities open to me in counselling, social work or education where I could make an impact, earn a good living and be fulfilled personally.”
Bryce added: “Speaking at Ä3’s Career Day is always a privilege. The genuine enthusiasm and gratitude from the learners are deeply inspiring and reaffirm what a privilege it is to engage with them.”
