Running could get you places. Not just around the block but indeed halfway across the world, as a young woman who grew up in Wesbank and Kuils River can attest.
Tamica Jooste (18), who matriculated from Sarepta Secondary School last year, has just started her studies at Wingate University in the USA.
Tamica, the second oldest of five siblings and the only girl, says her family moved from Wesbank to Kuils River in 2016. She attended A.Z. Berman Primary School in Mitchells Plain before starting at Sarepta.
She was a gymnast before she started running at age eight (Grade 3).
Tamica says her mom, Dorothy Jooste, was a teacher and a coach at A.Z. Berman Primary. “She told me to run with the learners at school to keep me fit for gymnastics.”
Her mom recognised she had potential and a few weeks later got her to run in a southern district cross country league race.
“Mom told me to just run for the fun. I crossed the finish line before all the girls and boys in my age category. That’s when my mom persuaded me to be an athlete.”
By Grade 8 she had to choose which sport to continue with.
“With the help of my parents, I chose to do athletics and be a runner. It was the best decision I ever made!”
Tamica competes in both track (1500 m, 800 m) and cross country (6 km).
Last year, while in matric at Sarepta Secondary, she was contacted by a coach of Wingate University.
”They were willing to offer me a full athletic and academic scholarship to study at Wingate University. I was so excited.”
She ended up declining.
On the day the matric results came out, she also found out she was accepted to study for a B Ed degree at the University of the Western Cape.
She wasn’t quite ready to leave her family behind. ’’I accepted because it was close to home.”
In March the coach from Wingate contacted her again to ask if she was sure about the decision she’s made.
“That was when I realised that this is God’s plan for me, and He is in control of my destiny,” says Tamica.
She arrived in North Carolina on 7 August to start the first year of a four-year degree in business management.
She says she will be forever grateful for the opportunity, and is adjusting well to university life at Wingate University.
“The stay in the USA is amazing thus far. They do a lot of things differently compared to South Africa. I’ve met a lot of new people and made a few good friends.”
Tamica says she can’t wait to see what God has in store for her future. She is thankful for her mom, her family and everyone else who have helped her to achieve her dreams.
“To compete in the USA has always been my dream.”
For the youth back home, her message of encouragement is: “You can do anything through Christ who strengthens you, believe and trust in Him with all your heart and He shall direct your path. Everything and anything is possible if you just believe in yourself and in the Almighty Heavenly Father.”
