When they are not looking

Lately I’ve been thinking about the impact society has in our lives. We act, make decisions based on how society will perceive us. Sometimes this is a good thing; sometimes it just is not good – at all. 

I remember growing up I had two lives – at home I was someone else and outside my house I was a totally different person.

When I was not home I would get so rebellious because I wanted to be cool and fit in, but how was I being cool if I wasn’t myself? Acting to be someone I was not became a full time job – and a pretty exhausting one.

When I was in the public eye I’d pretend like I ran the show – talk about parties and clubs when I actually wasn’t even going to any – at all. This is because I did not want to be left out in conversations. In the mist of it all, I became who I was not. 

But who was I really when society was not looking – a shy young girl who had big dreams. I was my family’s treasure, my grandmother’s beautiful flower, a song writer, an actress, a person whom talkative was what defined me best.  

I have learned that every one of us is like a rough diamond waiting to be polished in order to shine bright.

Sometimes our circumstances seem like they don’t allow us to be what we want to be. Boys from the Cape flats cannot explore their full potential because if they are not in gangs then gangs want to take them out. Girls date older man to easily get necessities. 

We now have a role to play. A role of sharing stories of people who come from our neighbourhoods and have made it passed the circumstances – to say that achieving your goals is possible.

Let’s start a culture of young people that won’t be embarrassed or scared to portray who they are. Success comes in different forms, levels and ways. 

I know young girls and boys that do not want to talk about their dreams to their peers because they do not want to be mocked.  That ambitious person you are when alone in your room let that person be known and embraced. Those great fantasies you have in your room that can change the world need to be made known.

Do not be brought down by society’s negativity. You might be one of the scientists to find cure for HIV/AIDS, you might be South Africa’s first female president, and you might be the person who finds solutions to the violence in our communities. 

We have people from our communities that have gone through their fair share of challenges but they rose above them and took ownership of their lives. 

Our community, our country is waiting and relying on your great idea to develop South Africa. Always be that great person that you are even when they (society) are looking, don’t shy away – you might just change lives.

To all grade 12 learners commencing with the final examination today, opportunities are immeasurable – be able to identify them and exploit them. BEST OF LUCK!

 *Picture courtesy of amazingasset.com