1. Tell us a bit about yourself?
Firstly, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity. I would like to describe myself as someone who is positive, and I am a hard-working mom. When I was 16 years old, I experience headaches and my late parents took me to the doctor and were told that my brain is swelling and if the operation wasn’t done immediately, I would not make it the following day. I had an operation on my head which they inserted a shunt and I’ve had 3 operations on my back as well. Those were the worst years of my life because I was paralysed from the waist down and at 16 when you still want to have fun with your friends, I was stuck in a wheelchair.
It was not easy, I cried a lot. I was depressed and I did not attend school for 2 years. I would say without my faith and my family I would not be where I am now. I started to have some movement on my legs, and I was so excited, I was able to feel when I want to needed to use the toilet, I didn’t need nappies anymore. I was able to stand with the help of my family and at times I would want to wash dishes and they will stand next to me. I am an introvert and love my own space.
I like listening to music and reading books. I told my late mom that I wanted to go back to school, and my mom asked how I would manage to go to school because my high school at that time was very far and we used to take a bus to Wynberg then train Diep River, but she agreed though. We would wake up at 4 and take a 05:30 am bus and in between we would take breaks and I would get to school at 08:30. It was heart-breaking for me seeing my late mom doing all this for me as she still must go to work after dropping me at school and in the afternoon, she will do the same exercise and we would arrive at home at 18:00 pm. My ex-principle intervenes and asks the teachers at South Peninsula High School which is the school I used to attend before my incident to assist and they did.
I would take a bus to Wynberg and wait for one of them, they would take me school, and, in the afternoon, other teacher would take me to Wynberg. I will forever be grateful to everyone who took their time assisting including students who were caring my school bag and my book when we change periods. I the finished my matric and I passed, I then study at UWC doing a LLB degree but on my 3rd year the headaches came back again, and I had to drop out. Then I work for different companies in the law environment. I have a handsome 10-year-old son who has brought nothing but joy into my life.
I am a kind of person who likes to do research on things and always that person who likes challenges and likes to give voice to everybody. Engen then gave me the opportunity to study again, and I did paralegal which I have completed it. Engen also gave me the opportunity for driving, I am currently in the process of writing my leaners then I would do 20 lessons’ for driving and all that Engen is part of it.
2. What work do you do?
I am a Supply & Trading Administrator (Supply & Trading Department) at Engen.
3. How long have you been in the industry?
I have been in the industry almost 8 years now, with some challenges along the line but nothing I couldn’t handle on my own.
4. Has your work always been your passion? Tell us why?
Not exactly, when I started at Engen everything I knew was law related, I then got a role in finance as Admin assistance, then I went to Shipping now I am in Trading. Everything was new to me, and I am very grateful to my colleagues who shadowed me right through. I love what I am doing now, and I wish I can do more.
5. Being a women in the industry – what does it take?
It is difficult to be a woman especially in the industry that we in. Let alone when you are physically challenged.
6. What has been the most difficult challenge of your career?
Been not taken seriously and that mentality people have that since you are physically challenged you are unable to take the challenge. They will never know until they give you the benefit of the doubt and let you learn in the process.
7. What advice do you have for other women in your industry?
They must stand their ground, stand up for what you believe in as long as you know you have all the correct information. We can take anything.
8. Plans for the future?
I like working for Engen and I am hoping and wishing one day I will have a different role and learn more about the business, own my car. I wish I could be a motivational speaker to those who are voiceless and thinking just because you are physically challenged it is the end of the world and it’s not. I have been through so much in my life and sometimes when I look back, I even ask myself how I survived this ordeal. I have accepted the person that I am, and I am very proud of what I have achieved and I am still going forward.
