Page 10 - Education August 2024

Lilli Jackson: From Global Adventures

to Academic Excellence

Lilli Jackson is an extraordinary teenager whose life story combines

global exploration, academic excellence, and dance mastery.

tarting at 10, she travelled
to 50 countries with her
Sparents and younger brother,
gaining invaluable experiences and
perspectives. Now a full-time student
in South Africa, Lilli uses her travel
wisdom in her academic and dance
pursuits. She represented South Africa
in 2023 at DanceStar World Masters
in Croatia and earned Senior Gauteng
Colours for her jazz, lyrical, and tap
skills. Here, Lilli shares her journey,
challenges, triumphs, and aspirations.

A Unique Start
Lilli’s journey began at 10 when her
family decided to travel the world.
Reflecting on this unique start, Lilli
recalls the excitement and curiosity
fuelling her adventure. “When I
learned we would travel the world,
I was thrilled and apprehensive,”
she shares. Her parents’ desire to
provide a unique learning experience
and immerse their family in diverse
cultures drove this decision.
Remarkably, her parents had already
travelled extensively while her
mother was pregnant with Lilli, doing
the famous Cape to Cairo route in a
van. This sparked their passion for
exploration and the desire to instil
wanderlust and a sense of adventure
in their children.

The World as a Classroom
“Travelling in a van allowed us to Denmark. That was probably one of firsthand enriched her understanding
experience the world up close,” Lilli my favourite destinations. I also really of the world. “Seeing how different
recalls. Due to visa restrictions, the enjoyed Vietnam. Getting a chance cultures practice their beliefs gave me
family had to backpack through some to see their perspective on what they an interesting perspective on history
countries, adding to the adventure. refer to as the American War was and humanity.”
Each destination offered unique particularly eye-opening,” she notes.
learning opportunities, enriching “It helped me understand that history Balancing travel and education
Lilli’s understanding of history, is all about perspective.” Witnessing was a unique challenge. “Learning
cultures, and faiths. “I just loved various faiths, cultures, and traditions while travelling was challenging yet

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