Hawston Secondary grade 10 – 12 learners listened in quiet wonder to Dr Lee-Ann Gillion who delivered an inspiring address on her journey from that of a struggling high school student to achieving her dream of becoming a doctor.
Gillion, herself a past pupil of Hawston Secondary School said, “In standard nine, or grade 11 as it’s now known, I decided that I wanted to be a doctor. However, like many of you sitting here today my parents could not afford to send me to university. I realised that the only way I would rise above my reduced circumstances was through hard work and achieving top marks.
“I was unsuccessful in securing even one of the 86 bursaries I applied for. It was my father’s appeal to local business people that eventually afforded the necessary funding that allowed me to take up my place at Stellenbosch University where I was accepted to study medicine. So my message to you is to never give up. Make the right choices, stay focussed and always have the end goal in mind when things get tough,” added the good doctor.
These sentiments were echoed by Executive Mayor Nicolette Botha-Guthrie who in her keynote address stated, “Career guidance sessions like today will provide many of you with an idea of what course of study or career to follow. I therefore urge you to embrace this opportunity as it could very well set you on the path to realising your objectives and achieving the success that each and every one of you are capable of.”
Overstrand Executive Mayor Nicolette Botha-Guthrie (pictured right) seen with Dr Lee-Ann Gillion (pictured left) at a Career Expo for grades 10 -12 recently held at the Thusong Centre in Hawston.