La Rochelle Yearbook 2023

Boodskap van die onder-hoofmeisie

random pair of earrings in my cupboard when I come home over weekends; the harsh realities when needed, the softer hugs when needed. Thank you for being my biggest supporter, Mom. I would not be here today without you. No matter how messy circumstances seemed, how hurt or alone I was feeling, unsure or confused and maybe even inadequate, you made it all better. In some weird mom-way, everything always falls into place with you. You are my guide, safety net, support system, guardian and sometimes my reality check. I can be a handful sometimes and I know I was not always easy. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for never making me feel as if I was too much. My soul will be perfectly content if I die one day being a fraction of the people the two of you are to me. A video documentary of Ben Lionel Scott once stated: ‘I am not phenomenally skilled but phenomenally willed. I will not give up. I will not surrender nor quit. Don’t stop. Never stop running towards your dream. Stay encouraged. Keep your head up. Stick your chest out. Continue to walk with pride. ’Cause if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.’ Matrics, there are still rough times ahead of us. But they will never come to stay. The bad days are not bad days if we decide they are simply character-building days. Night will not mean darkness if we decide that night symbolises a new beginning. All of us are becoming older. We are constantly changing, growing, and it is scary, yes. Sometimes we do not want change. But there is no stopping the clock. That is not how life works. It is always moving, whether we like it or not. Sometimes it is painful and sometimes it is surprising and happy. So, keep on growing. Do not let anyone stop you. Keep making mistakes and keep learning from them. And when life hurts you, because it will, own and remember the hurt. It is proof you are truly living, not just existing or being. And with that, my final thank you, is to you. Thank you for giving this school its spirit. Thank you for believing in me to lead and represent you this year. Keep marching to the beat of the drum of independent womanhood. Keep screaming your lungs out at 4G, no matter which position we achieve. Keep holding your chin up high while singing our School Song. Keep feeling proud when you ‘rock’ that blazer on which our school badge is emblazoned. Keep being you. Keep showing up. My dad told me once that consistency will always beat talent with flying colours. Keep living out your values. Keep trying. Even if you are sitting here now, feeling misunderstood or invisible, you are seen. I see you. I felt invisible too once, till people showed me that they saw me too. Keep leading with love in your hearts and please, keep keeping on. La Rochelle, if I could do it all again, I would not do a single thing differently. It has all been an absolute honour. En Avant!

up, be respectful, work hard and have fun. Enjoy it, even on the bad days, because it really will be over before you know it. Then to my two Daisies, Lakeisha and Xyla, Samwise and Frodo. I am immensely proud of being your Milady. You have the courage and maturity which I only gained later in high school. Keep embracing your individuality. You have hearts of gold and I know your Daisies will be the luckiest Daisies ever! Thank you for touching my heart in ways I believed unimaginable. Keep on being awesome. On the days where you feel a bit lost or just need to vent, I am only a call away. Blom, oh, Blom: When in a million years did we think we would ever be here today? It often felt as though we were thrown into the deep end; as though the world expected more than what we could give; as though we were completely alone in an experience to which no-one could ever relate. But we were not, because

we had each other. Where the one fell short, the other was there to help or offer a ladder. Thank you, Blom, for going through this journey with me. No matter how uncertain I was at times, with you beside me, I knew I would be fine. Thank you for helping me grow, for teaching me how to lead with integrity, honesty and loyalty, for supporting me when it seemed not many others did, for being someone to turn to, no

23 LAR

matter what. You are strong, capable, passionate and an inspiration. I thoroughly enjoyed our countless meetings throughout the year, particularly the midnight coffee and planning sessions. I admire your work ethic, endurance and optimistic outlook on life. I am beyond proud to have been your deputy and am convinced that no matter where life takes you, you will continue to bloom wherever you are planted and achieve great things. This is not the end of our road together yet, Blom! Last but not least, Mom and Dad: Thank you both for the opportunities you have gifted me to be able to get to where I am today. For all the sacrifices you make to ensure I am always sorted, well cared for and prepared for whatever life may throw my way. Thank you for your wisdom, lessons, love and support. Thank you for being proud of me, regardless, and for always pushing me to become the best version of myself. I could not be prouder to be your daughter, and hope you know that everything I do, I do for you as well. To my mom, my biggest fan who showed up at every show, competition or event: Thank you for being the phenomenal mother that you are; for supporting me in everything I wish to pursue and for believing in me when I hardly believe in myself. Whenever life became too much, you were there, either with your arms folded around me or on the other side of the phone. You are always there with cups of tea while I am studying; the

Jessica Eckhardt

Deputy Head Girl

La Rochelle Hoër Meisieskool | Girls’ High School Paarl