Turning your passion into a career is no big deal when you know how to do it. Problem is, not many of us know how to do it.
“We like to follow clear instructions and to get clear and definitive answers,” says Natalie Rabson of Boston City Campus & Business College. “But when it comes to turning your passion into a career, you have to find your own way. There are no secret recipes and no step-by-step instructions.”
However, she points out that there are many people out there whose examples we can follow. “We can learn what we need to know by looking at how such people succeeded to turn their passions into real jobs,” she says. “Then, by trial and error and sheer persistence, over a period of time we can make our dreams come true as did Jerome ‘Slim’ du Plooy, a graduate of Boston Media House.”
Slim, as he is commonly called, grew up in Kliptown, Soweto. Slim and his single mom lived without electricity for 16 years and faced many trials and tribulations. However, Slim remained dedicated to his schooling and completed high school with good marks.
While still at school (Klipspruit West Secondary in Soweto), he attended the Soweto Kliptown Youth (SKY) after-school program sponsored by the NBA (American National Basketball Association) and took up basketball. He loved playing basketball and talking about basketball - it was the beginning of a great passion. Great things followed: the NBA took him on a trip to America and sponsored his academic studies at Boston Media House in Johannesburg. In 2009, he graduated with a Boston diploma in media, majoring in radio broadcasting. Shortly thereafter, he was offered a presenting job at Eldoz FM.
Today, ‘Slim’ du Plooy is a sought-after MC, actor, radio and television personality as well as a motivational speaker and a brand ambassador for Nike SA. He has represented South Africa on the global basketball development and scouting programme run by NBA, the Basketball Without Borders programme, where he rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in basketball, such as Dwight Howard, Kyrie Irving and Caron Butler.
“I keep telling young people what I often tell myself: don’t limit yourself, think big,” says the 27 year-old Slim. “If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect other people to believe in you? My lecturers at Boston Media House taught me not to limit myself and that’s what I continue doing. I keep dreaming big even when I’m down or struggling.”
Despite a busy schedule, Slim makes time to mentor youth and play his part in ensuring that youth from underprivileged backgrounds don't have to struggle the way he did.
"I have always wanted to give back but I had to wait until such a time that I was in the position to do so. I was one of the few who made it, and when you make it, you make it for all of us," he says.
In 2011, he started his Slim Cares organisation through which he has made a difference to the lives of a number of youngsters in Soweto. He has, for example, partnered with organisations such as Boston City Campus and the Sunday School Foundation to provide clothing and study bursaries.
“When looking for inspiration on how to turn your passion into a career and beyond, don’t hesitate to follow the example of Slim,” says Rabson. “He is you regular next-door kid that is going places and uplifting everyone around him at the same time.”
View the Youtube clip “Play your Part episode 4 - Soweto Kliptown Youth & Jerome 'Slim' du Plooy” to find out more about Slim. For more information on Boston City Campus & Business College dynamic career qualifications offered at over 40 branches nationwide, phone on 011 551-2000, e-mail info@boston.co.za, visit www.boston.co.za or Facebook.
Passion tips from Slim
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