Layla Arrison
16 July 2015Trail-blazer, go-getter, high-flyer. These words come to mind when describing Layla Arrison – a woman who has many ‘firsts’ notched on her belt. From forming part of Curro Hermanus’s initial matric class to being the captain of an otherwise male-dominated sport, she is taking the world by storm – and accredits her dedicated work ethic and opportunity-focused mindset to Curro.
Layla’s passion for sports started at a young age. She was victrix ludorum for all five years in high school and had to learn quickly how to balance her academics and social life with her love for sports. ‘I often had to work extra hard to maintain my position on the sports team and keep my marks up’, she said ‘and I would not have been able to achieve everything I did without the support of my parents and teachers.’ Today she is the captain of Stellenbosch University’s first all-female 7s rugby team and was part of a development team who recently went to Dubai for a 7s competition.
When Layla was 15, she was cast in a national TV series on kykNET, Thomas@, in addition to all her other responsibilities. ‘The school was very accommodating’, she said. ‘They provided me with extra classes when I missed school, they rescheduled my tests around shoot days and they encouraged and supported me every step of the way.’
By grabbing every opportunity that came her way and overcoming any challenges to success, Layla has forged a life that sets a great example for young women. ‘I want to be a voice for girls who want to enter sports are relatively undiscovered by women and empower them to follow their dreams!’
‘Curro moulded me into the person I am today, and I am honoured to be part of Curro Alumni.’