Penny Heyns gives life lessons

Grade 9 pupils at Maragon Private Schools recently had the privilege of receiving guidance and motivation from former South African Swimmer, Penny Heyns.

Heyns offered some advice after the pupils took their Learning Receptive Test, where they choose their subjects for the remainder of their high school education.

The gold medalist said the results of the test reflected where the pupils were currently and prepared them for the real world.

“You all have a God-given talent and you cannot afford to waste it. You need to be aware of how you treat yourself, especially as you learn, think and react to other people.”

Heyns said each and every one of the pupils had potential and that there was a wealth of potential if they looked for it. She explained that graveyards, for instance, were the richest places on earth because they were full of untapped potential.

“All that talent and untapped potential just because someone decided before they had even tried that they would never be good enough. Someone decided that they could not make a difference and that they were not good enough for God’s plan,” she enforced.

This is not the first time the swimmer works with the school in Ruimsig, she coaches and teaches at the school’s swimming clinics.

Heys not only coaches the children to improve on their swimming but also teaches them positive ways to approach life in general and challenges the children to constantly better themselves.

“I consider working with the Maragon swimmers a privilege and pleasure. All the swimmers participating in the various clinics during the year, showed great enthusiasm in the water and intelligent interaction during the theory sessions. They were very well behaved and quite entertaining to say the least,” she concluded.