In ‘n besielende boodskap aan die matrieks van 2017 op hul laaste skooldag, het Charl de Villiers, hoofseun van 2008, vertellings uit sy eie lewe gebruik om twee lewenswaarhede te illustreer, naamlik dat jou houding teenoor die lewe meer tel as jou talent en daarom moet jy nooit moed opgee nie; en dat ‘n wen of ‘n verloor in ‘n belangrike gebeurtenis nie gaan bepaal hoe suksesvol jy as ‘n mens is nie.
Why do I say attitude is more important than talent? Remember, you might be very talented in some aspect in life – be it sport or academics. That in itself is great and you are very privileged if this is the case. But what do you do when life throws a challenge at you in an area that is not a talent of yours, but rather an area of development? A situation like this is especially potentially dangerous to talented individuals that have only relied on their talent and seldom delved deeper to ensure their attitude assist them in resolving certain challenges.
In a situation where you are challenged outside your talented area you will require a good attitude and character. It is important to realize that attitude and character are controlled by your mind and any person has full control over their mind. Therefore when challenging situations occur you will be able to control how you handle these situations by influencing your attitude and character. This is important for your lives ahead because I can promise you that life will challenge you often and at times in areas you least expect it.
I would like to use an example of my own life: at the end of my 2nd year I was included in the Maties Varsity Cup squad. Everything was going well until the squad re-assembled in early January 2011. I was diagnosed with severe glandular fever and was booked off for three months.
I returned in April and went on the Vics (2nd team) tour to get some game time. In the first match on tour I fractured my sternum. I was out for about two months and returned to play again. I was diagnosed with glandular fever once again.
Eventually I returned about August/September and asked Maties if I can get some game time in resident rugby. The club agreed and said I can play for Eendrag’s 3rd team just to get some game time. In this match I tore my ankle ligaments.
At this stage it was obviously a disastrous year and I had to make a health decision and therefore chose not to continue playing.
The next year my residence approached me and asked if I want to play a bit. I was sceptical at first but then decided I will play again. To cut a long story short we had a good season and made it into the Sauer (resident league) final.
I then got a call from Maties to ask if I want to take part in pre-season practice with the Varsity Cup squad. I thought they joked, but decided I want to give it one last chance. I nearly died in that pre-season. I was unfit and over my fighting weight. I almost gave up at a stage, since it was hectic training, but I knew I made the decision to join the squad for a reason so grinded on.
Five months later I played my first Varsity Cup game for Maties. The point I am trying to make is it is definitely not my talent that ensured I reach my goal, but rather a blood thirsty attitude and hunger to reach my goal. I used a sporting example but it is applicable to most areas in life.
The second quotation is “whether you win or lose in an important event/challenge in your life does not determine how successful you are as a person”. I want to start off by saying I played in three big rugby finals and I lost all three of them. Did it suck? Yes it did. Did it hurt? Yes it did. Was I disappointed? Yes I was. Did it make me less of a good/successful person? No it didn’t.
This is the point I want you to remember: you will win in life and you will lose in life but linking your identity to victory or loss in itself is not the answer. A good example is Rufus, your 1st team captain. You guys, in my opinion, had a very good season. Yes, the bounce of the ball was not always on your side and one or two missed tackles cost the team dearly, but these losses do not make you or any of your team members less of a good person in life.
You are very privileged to be educated in a school and environment where winning is very important and I agree that winning is important. I would continue to say that what is more important than winning itself is your attitude in which you play the game. You must want to be the best you can be, but as I said be careful not to link you identity to victory or loss in itself.
I hope this “padkos” will assist you gentleman in the future, since I would not have minded if someone told me this 9 years ago when I left Paul Roos. All the best with the upcoming exams and enjoy the last bit of time at this amazing school. Also cherish in your minds and hearts what you had here, since you will never have such a close brotherhood again.
Enjoy varsity, college, gap year, work or whichever way you will go. You won’t believe how quickly time flies and when you blink it will be your 5 year reunion and you will experience at the reunion once again how privileged you were to attend a school like Paul Roos and meet the amazing people you call your brothers.
Charl de Villiers, head boy 2008
