On Tuesday 11 June, Derek Rabelo, a renowned surfer shared his incredible journey with students across the College, leaving them motivated and inspired. Derek, who is vision impaired, has defied all odds and achieved remarkable success in the world of surfing. His visit to our College aimed to encourage students to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams with determination and resilience. Our Year 8 and Year 9 students in particular had the opportunity in Senior School to hear about Derek’s story, which is nothing short of extraordinary.
Born with a visual impairment, Derek faced numerous obstacles throughout his life. However, his passion for surfing was unwavering, and he refused to let his disability define him. With unwavering determination and a strong faith in God, Derek embarked on a journey to become a professional surfer. He had to overcome countless challenges and push his limits to the extreme. Despite his visual impairment, Derek learned to trust his instincts and rely on his other senses to navigate the waves. Through rigorous training, sheer perseverance and a belief that God has a plan for his life, he developed a unique surfing style that have captivated audiences worldwide. Derek has conquered over 15m waves in Portugal and 10m waves in Hawaii. Our students were lucky enough to see some of the amazing footage of him tackling these waves and had the opportunity to ask questions about his life, struggles, faith, and amazing attitude.
"I imagine thoroughly what the sea is. This thing feels to me like energy and blessings and happiness. The best feeling in the world."
During his time at College, eight students in year 9 were also privileged to be able to sit down with Derek where he continued to share his remarkable story, emphasizing the importance of never giving up on their dreams. He spoke about the power of perseverance, determination, and belief, urging the students to embrace challenges and turn them into opportunities for growth.
“I really love adventure, the feeling of adrenaline and being in danger. I guess that’s the way I’m wired. If everything is OK, it means there is still more life to be explored and the end hasn’t come.”
Many students expressed their admiration for Derek’s ability to overcome adversity and achieve success in a sport that demands both physical and mental strength.
Leading into UNITE week next week, the presentation from Derek was a great reminder of every person’s uniqueness but also our ability to celebrate our differences together.
Next week during UNITE week students will have the opportunity to engage in activities that promote positive conversations about their cultural background. The week will begin with a special assembly and will set the tone of celebration and inclusivity. It will be a great opportunity for students to connect and share in a safe and encouraging environment. The week will also have a Chapel for the whole Senior School and finish with a special events cultural day. On Friday students will have the ability to arrive to College wearing a special outfit that represents their national and cultural background. This could range from traditional dress or an item of clothing, colours of their national flag or a sporting jersey from their national team. If students do not have any cultural items to wear, they are encouraged to wear the colour orange, as this is the national colour of Harmony Day in Australia.
We are looking forward to hearing the different stories students share during this week, it is often seen by teachers and staff to be one of the best weeks of the year!