by: jeanne fourie
A pair of bright eyes, a cheery smile and an aura of exuberance greeted me the first time I laid eyes on Naledi. Little was I aware of the pain behind those eyes, and the emotional journey which had taken her to the point of our first meeting in that cramped tutorial classroom a few weeks prior. And how hard she had worked to achieve her happiness.
Naledi arrived at the Eden Grove lecture theatre dressed casually in drama ‘prac’ clothes and armed with numerous props and files. With an ever-cheery smile she launched into a colorful array of questions: “How was I?” “How was I doing?” “Did I manage to stomach res food that afternoon?” – all before she’d had a chance to sit down. It wasn’t until she sat down and was asked the penultimate question of my interview, that I saw the smile collapse and a flicker of hurt flash through her eyes. “How are you today”?
Naledi once told me that writing about a person is done easily enough. Simply a rehash of facts and a disjointed barrage of information to state who someone is. This inspired a retelling of why someone is who they are and the emotional journey to reach that point. Emotions and mental health were a key feature in our discussions as we shared our experiences.
Naledi’s mantra was always to have a strong presence to distract herself from what was happening inside. Pressures from girls in matric and her working life shifted her into a state of melancholy, constant despair and anxiety - wishing for a happier release. Yet she built an aura of confidence to strengthen herself against the demons. Rhodes University was a lifeboat in the ocean of sadness, offering her an opportunity to release herself from her demons. Yet despite her best efforts in first year, they clung to her in the form of evil-minded varsity girls – pushing her emotional state into the dark. But admirably, her smile was always present, laughter was plentiful, and the smile was as wide as ever.
On this boiling hot day in the Eden Grove building, Naledi bears her emotional soul. A bright smile is her lifeline. She appears nervous yet hopeful, looking forward to time to recuperate and recharge her batteries. We discuss her state during the term and having to search for strength in order to navigate difficult areas of varsity. And yet, despite not feeling as happy as she would like, she accounts for the massive growth in her mental state over the past year by having faith in herself and engaging in activities she enjoys, such as drama.
A poignant moment in our discussions occurred towards the end of it. Naledi was asked what advice she would give to her younger self to move forward and become stronger. She hesitated for a moment, somewhat awed by the subtle enormity of the question. “It’s all about being comfortable with who you are,” she said simply. “It’s all about inner peace and reducing your care of other people’s opinions.” My admiration for her grows with each word. Managing to deal with inner demons, but still exist as a loving, warm person is the epitome of inspiration. As much as we laughed and joked, we had made our real instant connection by knowing that there was someone out there to listen.
Her body language had changed significantly during the course of our meeting. Initially she appeared nervous and tense, hugging herself and smiling shyly as she waited for the questions. By the end, we were both giggling and relaxing into our chairs. Proving that with some hard work, one can reach a point where happiness is attainable.
The interview ended and we trooped into the Red lecture theatre for our next lecture. We smiled a goodbye and parted ways. Watching her as she went to find a seat, I noticed a slight spring in her step and an aura of calm. I smiled to myself, equally as calm. Thankful to have met a person who shares the demons, as well as the passion to overcome them.
periodt.
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