I am A Work In Progress

Growing up my life seemed perfect to other people who would see me in the streets. One thing they don't know is the pain I've gone through growing up.

My name is Zinhle Ubisi and I'm a 24 year old girl who lives with her mom, younger brother and gran, studying accounting and these are bits and pieces of my story.

I lost my dad at the age of 11 years and I was bullied in grade 8, gaining my confidence has been one of the toughest battles in my entire life. Losing my dad in 2009 was the most devastating thing ever, the man I loved so dearly, the strongest man I knew (after God of course) lost his life just like that. It didn't make sense at all one morning he was here the next morning he wasn't.

However my mom has been present since day 1, she's done her best to be both a mother and a father to my siblings and I. Gave us emotional support when we needed it, financial support etc.

but it still didn't erase my dad's passing in my mind. Growing up I loved school so much I enjoyed it, I got to high school and became friends with some girls and what I thought was going to be a joyful year for me became the worst, I started hating school, every morning was a drag, I spent my breaks crying in the girl's toilets because of the mean things those girls use to say to me and do to me. Things got so bad one time I found myself in the principal's office and he suggested I see the school's therapist and I did but that did not fully help me. I had to make a choice and that choice was for me to look for another high school to further my studies because I refused to be bullied. And I changed schools.

I'm sharing this story because that's where I got my strength from and after high school thinking about what those girls did to me still made me angry and sad, but that's when I realized it was because I was throwing myself a pity party and it wasn't helping me in any way, so if I wanted to heal I had to not only forgive them but myself also for letting it get to me for so many years. I also had to learn that sometimes people are mean towards you because what they battling it's never you, there was nothing wrong with me, I haven't fully gained my confidence back but I'm taking things one day at a time, setting boundaries, reading affirmations to myself every morning when I wake up and most importantly realizing my worth. One thing that makes me happy is the impact I have on people. I've received far too many compliments about the good I've done for people, sometimes just lending an ear goes a long way. I chose not to let my pain control me, I'm claiming back my life and I know God and my dad would be so proud of the young women I've become.

I hope you realize your worth as well.