Caurtwen Solomons, 22, from Beacon Valley.
Image: supplied
With a dream of designing the future but a mind wired to see the world differently, Caurtwen Solomons refuses to let dyslexia stand in the way of becoming an architect.
Despite his struggles, the 22-year-old from Beacon Valley refused to let his learning difficulty define his future.
“In primary school, they would put me over to the next grade, and it affected me, but it also made me stronger as a person. Even though this held me back, I am able to thrive and move forward in life,” he said.
Learning in a traditional classroom setting was challenging for Caurtwen who matriculated at Beacon Hill High School last year. He found that memorisation and auditory learning were more effective for him
“Teachers taught me by word of mouth. I would memorise the lesson, and when I sat down, I would remember it. I couldn’t study like a typical student, but I used visuals and voice notes to gather and retain information.
“Everyone has the right to quality education, even those with learning disabilities. The way I learn is different from most, so teachers must also find ways to accommodate students like me in the classroom,” he said.
Despite his struggles, Caurtwen achieved a bachelor’s pass last year. Though some classmates criticised or insulted him for his learning style, he remained steadfast.
“I never let it break me down because I understood my own way of learning. I would try to explain it to others so they could see it from my perspective.”
He acknowledges the support of several teachers who played a crucial role in his journey.
Ursula Matthys-Damon, Beacon Hill's Liberian and learner support teacher affectionately known as a mother to all, said she is very proud of his journey.
"We started his journey in grade 8. I could see his development, he was older than some of the students in his class but he was very smart. One of the teachers marked his Afrikaans papers, and said when the questions were asked verbally, he amazed me. The answers he gave were correct. We started on the level where he was, and he has grown ever since," she said.
Former Beacon Hill teacher Adrian Bothma, who was also Caurtwen’s sports coach, recalls his perseverance.
“Caurtwen is a hardworking young man. He excelled in rugby and javelin, and he’s a natural-born leader. I learned from him that failure isn’t the end of the world. He taught me perseverance. I noticed his learning challenges and helped him practice orals by recording them as songs, which he would memorise like lyrics. The more he recited, the more confident he became.”
Caurtwen, who aspires to become an architect, works at a sauce manufacturing and distribution company in Bellville.
His message to students facing similar challenges is one of hope and resilience: “Always stay positive. There is always a way to break through those challenges. No challenge is too great or too small. I want to wish all students, especially the class of 2025, all the best.”