A rewarding sea-change in life
Joining the sea cadets brought confidence and hope
MY LIFE as a cadet started in January 2018. My mom and I saw an advert on a home schooling group about a Maritime Club, and we decided together that I’d join.
As a kid who has an incurable allergy to water, no self-confidence and would rather stay indoors and sleep, I didn’t like it – the waking up early on Sundays (for training at 7.30am), dreadful sweating, thought of swimming, long days in sun, socialising with other kids, all sounded like torture to me. It seemed serious, boring and a lot like school. But I was wrong; it became fun, enjoyable and nothing like a school.
I learnt a lot of drills, had physical training, learnt to tie interesting and complex knots and about boats. I was given a manual to learn from and was tested on it.
Once I became a seaman, I started growing in a way I never knew I could, and even my mom saw the change.
I become more comfortable with other children, more confident, grew a tougher skin, started standing up for myself and gained a new positive view of life.
I realised that I was more than just a girl who’s allergic to water and learnt that there was more to my life than being isolated and staying cooped-up in my room.
I realised that
I too deserved to have a laugh, fun and enjoy being like other children.
I carried on pushing to get to my next rank and am working hard but have just as much fun, learning how to tie more knots, doing more drills and learning drills with rifles.
The physical training has become harder, the push-ups more, running time longer but am I pushing my body as hard as I can.
We have learnt more about boats and the harbour, learnt to sail with Sail Africa. It was challenging but the best fun I’ve had.
There’s a lot that I still cannot completely do and participate in because of my allergy to water and sweat, but it doesn’t limit me. I carry on pushing the limit and am always ready for any challenge life may bring.
I am grateful and content with life as a sea cadet. I wouldn’t be who I am today without TS Tiburon, my mother, Petty Officer (SAN) Smith and the unit’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Gouws, who saw the potential, pushed me and helped me through sleepless nights, tears and pain. I gained life-long friends who are becoming my family.
I continue to fight daily struggles but with confidence, and believe I can do anything.
Sea cadets has taught me that my disability does not need to define me, or keep me back from anything. It has taught me resilience and to overcome my personal obstacle.
Barnabus is based on the TS TIBURON, a training ship for sea cadets in Durban.