Magazine 2018

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. From humble beginnings in Pre- Primary in 2005 2. Head girl in 2017 3. Laura Wolvaardt with top rugby player for Parklands College (2017), Ian Kitwanga, sharing a photo opportunity at the 2017 Matric Farewell 4. Laura Wolvaardt with Mrs Steyn at the 2018 Derby Day event held at Parklands College, 16 – 18 August 5. Our very own Laura Wolvaardt Top South African female cricket player. Proudly South African and Proudly Parklands College When was it apparent to you that you were an “above average” cricket player? When I was 16 I made my debut for the Proteas. I realized that I was sitting in a change room that all cricketers dream of sitting in. Cricket is a very humbling sport though. You’re only as good as your last match, so it is always vital to keep working hard and to never take a good innings for granted. In 2017 you ranked top of your grade with 7 distinctions in matric exams, even though you had to catch up on exams you missed playing cricket. Not only that, you were named Women’s Newcomer of the year at Cricket South Africa’s annual awards. How did you manage to stay focused on your final year at Parklands College whilst building your cricketing career? Staying on top of my school work was definitely not something I could do alone. It took a tremendous amount of planning and organization from my teachers. They had to move my tests, schedule extra tutorials for work that I had missed and email work to me while I was away. My hero during Matric was Mrs Vosloo. She helped make it possible for me to go to the Cricket World Cup in July, moving around countless tests and exams for me. I spent hours writing in her office in between tours and practice sessions. What does it feel like now to be a professional national sportswoman? Does it change your enjoyment of the game? As a professional athlete there is a lot more at stake in the cricket matches that I play. There is definitely more pressure to perform, but I still love cricket as much as I did when I started. The mental side of cricket has become as important as the physical side for me. I try to focus on my love for the game and not worry too much about the expectations. What is the country you have most enjoyed playing against, and why? Probably Australia. They have always been the best side in the world and it was a fantastic opportunity to play against them. How did you prepare yourself mentally when you went into the World Cup tournament? Just before I left for the World Cup I was actually frantically trying to get my school work in order. I didn’t have time to worry about the World Cup pressure too much. I just tried to enjoy my cricket and make the most of the experience. Who is your favourite female cricket player and why? Also which male cricket player inspires you most? My favourite cricket player is Meg Lanning from Australia. She is the best batter in the world and I aspire to play like her one day. What was you most memorable moment as a past Parkie? My most memorable moment was the day of my Valedictory. It was so special to celebrate my school journey with all of my family and friends around me. Any words of advice to young aspiring Parkies? That you must do things that make you happy and make the most of all of the opportunities in your life. Laura, thank you for chatting to us. We wish you all the best for the future. 103. parklands.co.za