.png)
In an uncertain and unstable period in history, you walked through the gates of Hoërskool Ben Viljoen in 2021 as confused grade 8s - armoured with a mask, a bottle of disinfectant and a heart full of questions. You entered a world that seemed different from the one you were prepared for: hallways were quieter, smiles were hidden, and distance was part of the new normal. But you walked nonetheless - brave, curious and willing to adapt. That first step already showed what kind of matriculants you would be one day.
Class of 2025, chin up. It sounds simple, almost mundane, but within these words lies a powerful truth. Lifting your head is the first sign that you are willing to look the world squarely in the eye - that you refuse to stare fixedly at the obstacles of today, and instead direct your gaze towards the possibilities of tomorrow. When you lift your head, you see beyond the immediate challenges. You see opportunities, dreams and callings waiting to be seized. You understand that great victories are not built from one big leap, but from small, consistent choices: to try, to keep going, and to get up every time you fall.
“Lig jou ken en ken jou Lig.” These words, originally from Magé Trotskie, then head girl of C&N Secondary Girls’ School Oranje and today known as Vir Nou Net Magé, carry a wisdom worth holding onto. In her speech in 2021, the same year you walked through our gates as Grade 8, she said: “Lift your eyes off the ground and be here. The Lord says ‘Stop, take a moment, look up and breathe. I am with you… I love you.’ "Lift your eyes and see the people around you. See the new day, and if you fell yesterday, then you stand up today with new courage, new strength and that big, bright smile.”
This message resonates more strongly today than ever. You have grown through a period of uncertainty, you have overcome change, and you have proven that you are resilient enough to move forward, not with fear, but with determination.
Matrics of 2025, this is not the last page of a book. This is the first paragraph of a new chapter - one in which you are the author. Keep your values close, your dreams bright, and your head always high enough to see the possibilities. Each of you carries a unique story in your heart, and every path ahead is different. Yet every path has one thing in common: it requires light. Your light.
Go out and be a light bearer in a world that sometimes feels dark. Be true to yourself, live with integrity, and pursue your dreams with a combination of courage and humility. Remember that your light is not only meant for your own path, but also to brighten the paths of others.
The world awaits you - with challenges, yes, but also with abundant opportunities. Lift your head, chin up... and know your light.