Nulla Vestigia Retrorsum
Career Day 2024
By Nikki Hendricks (Learner Support Committee)
Career Days are critical for exposing learners to the options available to them. The 2024 Livingstone High School (LHS) Career Day took a different approach this year in order to engage learners more directly and illustrate the link between good results at school and subsequent career options. The day started with a recording of a poem read by Tiktokker Leyondré Julius, followed by a short play performed by Grade 9’s, and a brief address by Ondela Mlandu, the Southern African Global Shapers Community Champion. Learners were then rotated through six different ‘hubs’, each facilitated by a subject matter expert. ‘Goodies’ were handed out at the last session.
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All the participants hailed the day as a success. Excitement started building during the registration period when learners were issued with coloured armbands, used to manage the flow from hub to hub. The hall session was kept short and impactful. A short tragicomedy by a group of Grade 9’s told the poignant story of three classmates who meet up 10 years after finishing school and their realisation that their choices made at school have fundamentally affected their lives. Ondela Mlandu shared the challenges that she experienced growing up and allowed her to rise above those challenges to be voted a Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South African in 2022.
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Grade 9’s who participated in the play, from left to right: Slater Jaden Duitsman (co-director), Abigail Leona Denton (actor), Ammaarah Braaf (actor), Caleb Ché Augustyn (actor) and Shaddai Mukendi (actor)
Hub sessions covered a range of different career options, and the smaller groups enabled meaningful, focussed interaction. Particularly encouraging among the learner stories that emerged during these hub sessions, was the number of learners from Grade 8 and upwards who are already running their own profitable businesses. These young entrepreneurs are a ray of hope for the future.
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None of the above would have been possible had it not been for the dedication and support of a small group of people, including the LHS Life Orientation team, members of the Livingstone High School Alumni Association (LHSAA), and family and friends with no links to Livingstone who stepped in to assist with the day’s setup. Finally, a special vote of thanks goes to the member of the Class of 1979 who provided the funding for the goody bags.
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It was a great event that provided a solid base on which to build in future. Planning has already commenced for next year’s event, and we will be reaching out to the alumni community to assist with skills and sponsorship. Events such as these have the power to change lives. Please support them as much as you can.