Keep dreaming big

Denise Mhlanga discovers that any dream is possible if you believe in yourself and stay committed

DENISE MHLANGA

Johannesburg Age: 33 Achieved her dream career

At age seven, I was dreaming big dreams and enjoying a happy-go-lucky childhood in Zimbabwe. I loved to read and even at that age, I knew without a doubt that one day, I’d be a journalist.

But my world was about to change. By the time I turned eight, my parents had separated. After my father left, my mother did what women in Africa do — she ploughed the land and made small crafts to sell. During these years we had rain, and so could provide our own food. The money made from selling crops and crafts was important as it paid our school fees and bought our uniforms.

I was the youngest of seven children and we all chipped in to help, but my mother worked hardest to ensure we all received a good education. Although she didn’t understand my dreams then, she always said that I was born to write, and that when the time came for me to find a job in journalism, I’d be good at it. She encouraged me to follow my heart.

I left school with disappointing results and moved to South Africa soon after. From then on, I had to fend for myself and I took part-time jobs here and there as a child minder, domestic worker, nursery school assistant and coffee shop all-rounder. I still dreamt about becoming a journalist, and used every opportunity to express myself through personal writing.

In 1999, I decided to take action to bring myself closer to my dream. I enrolled for part-time studies at a correspondence college and took a position as a full-time domestic worker to support myself.
Holding down a full-time job and studying at the same time was difficult, but I believe if you want something enough, it’s worth the sacrifice. I had the unwavering support of my employers, my closest friends and even strangers I met along the way, which made even the hardest times bearable. It took me four years in total, but I completed a course in media studies and journalism.

When I landed my first job as an intern at The Citizen newspaper, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I had finally realised my dream! My next job was at a community newspaper, and after that I moved to Moneyweb, where I’m currently working as an online financial journalist. When people see me now they often say “you’re so lucky”, but I don’t think luck has anything to do with it.

These opportunities didn’t just end up in my lap — I worked hard for many years, and remained committed to my goal even in difficult times. I believe one should always be working towards something, and my next goal is to complete a university degree in journalism.

Motivational Tips:

▶ Life is a test — every challenge presents an opportunity to learn and grow.
▶ There’s no excuse for not living fully in the moment.
▶ It’s OK to feel that life is falling apart from time to time, but don’t lose sight of your dreams during difficult times.

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