I live by a saying that came to me during one of my Sustainability classes, ‘Innovate yourself into determination’ and it is this phrase that reminds me to strive for creativity with determination when it comes to helping those around you especially the environment in which we all live in. The youth are the next shapers of our country and as much as I am part of it I yearn to create a platform where people can propel from to reach their dreams, especially those less fortunate. My passion for helping was amplified during my studies, where I was given multiple opportunities to take on leadership roles as a student representative and become a team player in my department’s school council and advisory committee. I was also awarded the opportunity to work as an event assistant for the AP&ES annual Yebo Gogga event. The skills I gained came in handy when a group of friends and I formed an NPO called the R Shape group, where I served as the Knowledge and research coordinator. The NPO focused on assisting high school students in disadvantaged areas learn more about tertiary education opportunities outside just going to University and exposed them to information they weren't privy to compared to high schools in suburban areas. We also offered mentoring and tutoring services in our free time. After graduating, due to financial issues I could not continue on with my studies and so I had to turn down my honors offer. I chose to then go work as an ESL teacher in Zhengzhou China for 2 years. I only returned to South Africa in January 2020.