{"id":47891,"date":"2022-09-08T11:42:26","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T09:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/?p=47891"},"modified":"2025-11-28T14:05:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T12:05:37","slug":"preparing-for-the-future-how-a-commercial-and-contract-law-course-is-helping-this-sports-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/preparing-for-the-future-how-a-commercial-and-contract-law-course-is-helping-this-sports-star\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing for the Future: How a Commercial and Contract Law Course Is Helping This Sports Star"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cSport is very short term. It’s 10, 15 years max. And then what happens after that? If you’re not proactive throughout those years that you’re earning well and you’re doing well, then you’re gonna be stuck and you’re gonna be left behind.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nRyan Oosthuizen, South African Sevens Rugby Player and LLB Student<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Ryan Oosthuizen\u2019s rugby career didn\u2019t have the most auspicious beginning. As he claims, he only started playing to spend time with his friends. \u201cIt just happened that I was quite good at it.\u201d An understatement for someone who helped take the South African Sevens Rugby team to World Series victory in 2017. However, that\u2019s possibly the last time he wasn\u2019t actively thinking about his future career path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How online learning can prepare you for the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When Ryan completed the Commercial and Contract Law<\/a> online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT), he was purposefully growing his already impressive CV. That\u2019s because, as well as his full-time rugby career, Ryan is also doing a four-year LLB degree online. So, already a convert of online learning, because of his busy schedule, a short course made sense. \u201cThe online short course that UCT provided furthered my contract and commercial law knowledge and is something I can add to my CV,\u201d he explains. Recognizing how it could complement his degree, the course provided a practical element into how to draft contracts and lease agreements, and what faults to look out for. A true lifelong learner, he says, \u201cWe should never be complacent with what we know. The world is ever evolving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using online learning to help yourself and those around you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ryan recognizes how lucky he is. As he says, \u201cAt the moment I\u2019m fortunate enough to be earning a living through playing rugby.\u201d However, he\u2019s not resting on his laurels. \u201cWhat motivates me is to be better every day, not to be complacent, to learn every day, to be a better self. And to help the people around me.\u201d His drive to look after his loved ones grew from a misfortune many families will be familiar with. When Ryan was still in high school, his father was unfairly dismissed from his job and the family didn\u2019t have the funds to appoint a lawyer to fight his case. That incident was the catalyst that made Ryan focus on his future, \u201cI started researching what I could do and how to become a lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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