Vorige Saal byeenkoms: Embrace the Standard
Where we spoke about rules vs maintaining standards.
THE JERSEY IS BIGGER THAN THE PLAYER
Let me start with a question. Why do the springboks matter so much to South Africans?
- Is it because they win?
- Is it because of the trophies?
- Is it because of the incredible players?
- Or is it because, for 80min, something happens that is actually quite rare in our country…
We become ONE team…
- Different backgrounds
- Different languages
- Different communities
- Different stories
- But we put on the same jersey
And suddenly the individual becomes part of something MUCH bigger. And I think there is powerful lesson for every HERMIE sitting here this morning.
- Dink aan ‘n Springbok speler wat daai GROEN en GOUD rugbytrui ontvangs. Die trui is deur vorige helde en groot name gedra voordat dit JOU beurt geword het. Groot spelers, gewone spelers, invloedryke spelers, dalk die kaptein, spelers wat “legends” geword het…soos julle sal sê: “Hy is ‘n GOAT”.
Maar hulle het ALMAL een ding in gemeen gehad: Vir ‘n kort rukkie, draer of bewaarder (custodian) van die trui geword. Jy besit nie die trui…of eerder daai nommer agterop die trui nie, maar jy dra en verteenwoordig dit vir ‘n kort rukkie, voordat jy dit oorhandig aan iemand anders.
En dit is wat dan ook hier gebeur by Hoërskool Hermanus. Ons almal dra die Hoërskool Hermanus trui of moet ons dit ons skooldrag noem.
- Die HERMIES trui het ‘n geskiendenis
- Daar was ‘n “ander” 1000 HERMIES in die skool voor julle, wat gebou het waarvoor ons staan.
- Onderwysers wat belê het in die leerders.
- HERMIES voor julle het tradisies geskep.
- Spanne voor julle het dalk trofee gewen.
- Matrieks voor julle het in die saal of gim gesit.
…en nou is dit julle beurt.
SIYA KOLISI IS MORE THAN A CAPTAIN
Think about Siya…whatever your views are on rugby, his story provides an extraordinary example of what can happen when an individual understands that their story is connected to something bigger. It’s NOT just about you!
When he lifts the trophy, he doesn’t stand there as Siya Kolisi…
- He represents a team
- A community
- A country
- A story much bigger than himself
He couldn’t win the world cup by himself…nobody can. You need OTHER people to play their part.
- The person winning the lineout
- The person making the tackle
- The person kicking the ball
- The person doing the work that doesn’t make the highlights reel.
And that is exactly how a school works…NOT EVERYONE GETS THE HIGHLIGHT REEL.
- Some of you will be captains
- Some of you will be prefects
- Some of you will be part of the 1st team
- Some of you will academic prizes
- Some of you will stand on the stage
BUT many of the MOST important contributions you make will never receive an award. So what does that look like…
- The person who sits next to someone who is having a difficult day
- The teammate who encourages the player who made a mistake
- The HERMIE who welcomes the new kid
- The friend who says: “Come with us”
- The person who picks up litter even though nobody is watching
- The learner who chooses NOT to join in when everyone else is making a bad choice.
- The teacher who stays behind for one more learner.
Those things rarely make the newspaper or the social media post…but they build culture…and culture is what makes a school special.
Die Springbokke kry nie altyd alles reg nie…hulle wen nie elke wedstryd nie. Hulle maak foute, moet teleurstelling hanteer en verwerk…selfs vir hulle, gaan alles nie volgens plan nie. MAAR…
Die eienskappe van ‘n ongelooflike span is nie dat hulle nie foute maak nie, maar HOE hulle daarop reageer.
Ons gaan almal iewers foute maak en dalk NIE suksesvol wees met wat ons aanpak nie, ons GAAN definitief foute maak. Daar gaan dae wees wat dinge maar teleurstellend is.
And the question is not: “Did I get it wrong?”
It is: “ What will I do next!?”
Learn from it. Own it. Get back up and go again!
To finish off: There is a beautiful verse in the bible in Psalms 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity”
- Unity doesn’t mean we all look the same
- …or think the same
- That we are all good at the same things
It means we understand something bigger. We belong to one another…and that is what the Springbok or Hermies jersey represents.
Hermanus High is bigger than:
- any one learner
- any one teacher
- any one Principal
We are custodians of something that was here before us and will hopefully be here long after us
So HERMIES, wear the jersey:
- with pride
- with humility
- with courage
- with responsibility
and when your times comes to hand it over…
make sure you hand it over better than you received it…because that is part of the HERMIE MAGIC…and that is what being part of something bigger than yourself looks like.