Page 11 - YMS Africa Magazine 3rd Quarter 2017 Online-1

BORN TO SUCCEED

What was your childhood like? following year at Wits. It I did not work world. They are ambitious and goal driv-
It was tough. I am from a child-headed out, so I dropped out. I went through the en. They are not your ordinary kind of
family. In 2003, my mother, a single most challenging time of my life and felt people at all. They are born leaders with
parent; had to go work away from home that no one was recognising my work. a passion to share with others.
as a full-time domestic worker and only Things started to improve in 2016, as l What advice would you give to learners
came home on weekends. I was in grade set off on a new career in air traffic con- who want to pursue the career of their
3, my older sister in grade 8 and my trol management; I now work at ATNS dreams?
little brother attended crèche. My sister and I am based at Lanseria Airport as Start living your dreams as early as
had to look after me and I had to take an air traffic service assistant. I am also possible. Have goals and work hard at
care of my little brother. employed part time at a trampoline school. Focus and have the right attitude
We prepared ourselves for school, park called Bounce Ink. It is fun to work towards the career that you want to
packed our lunches and helped each there. I am a mentor for YMS Africa pursue.
other with homework. After school I magazine. I am hoping to grow. Understand that landing the job of your
would fetch my brother from crèche, When did you join the Young Movers dreams is not only about achieving the
cook supper and then prepare him for & Shakers Africa Magazine Leadership right marks, it must be in line with your
bed in the evening. Programme? strengths; weaknesses and the rest of
Money wasn’t enough; sometimes In 2011, when YMS magazines were de- your qualities as a person.
mother would not come home on livered to our school. I had no idea how Job shadowing is very helpful in this
weekends and we had to hustle on our but I just felt I wanted to be a part of this regard for the following reasons:
own. During school holidays I would go and do things for other people. With my - you can ask the professional you are
with my mom to her workplace to clean experience, I felt I could help other high shadowing about the marks you need to
the windows for extra cash. I stopped
working there last year, when I started
doing an air–traffic control course. My " I have always had big dreams and the
mother still works at the same job. She
comes home over the weekends. desire to be a successful person.
How have you led yourself to where
you are now despite all the challenges I decided I do not want my own family to
that you have faced in your life?
I have always had big dreams and the go through the same struggles that we
desire to be a successful person. I decid-
ed I did not want my own family to go faced as children. To achieve this, I
through the same struggles that we faced realised that I needed to remain motivat-
as children. To achieve this, I realised
that I needed to remain motivated and ed and always do something productive
Zanele Kumalo’s childhood was challenging, however the young always do something productive in in my spare time."
my spare time. I kept myself motivat-
mover and shaker refused to let circumstances determine her future. ed through reading. I found it more

She made a firm decision at an early age that she wanted to be interesting than going outside to play,
even when I was in primary school. This
successful. In 2012, Zanele completed her matric, passing six strong focus on my books helped me, school students. In 2013, I got involved achieve in matric,
because when I matriculated in 2012, I
and I had the positive drive.
- you can enquire about the study route
subjects in the Science stream with distinctions. She is now building achieved six distinctions. In your opinion what is a young mover you need to take in tertiary,
the life that she feels she deserves and makes time to give back to What did you study after such an aca- and shaker? - you get to see the professional’s day
demic achievement?
to day experience at different levels and
A special kind of a young person who
her community. She tells us how she overcame difficulties in her life I studied Clinical Medical Practice the has an incredible drive to change the what they go through emotionally.
and claimed her power.

8 YMSAFRICA.COM