But Im excited to be in Bloemfontein. It is one of my favourite weekends. I get to dine and engage and interview some of the most talented, passionate, academically gifted young South Africans with leadership skill and potential. Sadly only a few can be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. And that can be an amazing and even life changing achievement and experience. That said, I must say though, after having been a selector for so many years Im really proud as a South African that I could, in all sincerity, write a supplement like the M&G top 200 young South Africans-supplement that contains profiles of young people who didnt apply for the Rhodes or who did but didnt get it and yet have gone on to do amazingly bloody well ---- including degrees from Oxford with distinction. Frankly some didnt need the affirmation of this scholarship. Some of you are my friends - and scare and motivate me with your brilliance. And thats because passion and talent and hard work cannot be stopped in their tracks. On a more selfish note - and Im sure other selectors on this regional committee like Maryana Iskander & Brendan Grealy and others would agree - whats cool about this weekend too is that I get inspired by the talent we have the privilege of getting to know better. I always feel like Ive renewed my own commitment to my projects and goals by living vicariously for a few hours through the candidates we shortlisted. Speaking of which...let me get ready to go meet them. Young people rock! And not all of them demand freebies, wena Lindiwe Sisulu! They can do with more opportunities though. And less shouting from underperforming ministers. SAs got talent....visible talent & way too much invisible talent we have a duty to unearth and nurture if were in positions to do so.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 17:00:48 +0000
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