Blog post 1

"Call me Au, cause I'm golden in my element" 

A ray of sunshine, a rose amongst thorns. "Dipped in chocolate, bronzed in elegance, enamelled with grace, toasted with beauty. My lord, she's a black woman." Look for me in the centre of crowds, in the heart of food festivals, the front row of a music concert and you will find me in my most peaceful and natural state. These are just some of the things that I love. I am the centre of attention, a misunderstood being, an introverted extrovert. Some people were made, well, I'd like to think I was created. I consider myself one of a kind, cliche, I know. My name is Ayabulela Mahleza, also known for ukwenza kakhulu (Translation: Also known for doing the most.) and this is who I am. 

Born and bred in the city of legends, Port Elizabeth to a family of four. An ordinary black family, my mom is a teacher and my dad is in the private sector working in the field of finance. My younger brother and I grew up very privileged because our parents tried by all means for us to have a grow up in a stable household and have a better life than they had. I went to one of the best co-ed schools in the city and my brother is currently still in high school at the top co-ed school in Port Elizabeth. Growing up, we never really had grandparents like the rest of my cousins and friends had, so my mom became my best friend because I spent most of my life with her and my dad rather than having grandparents to visit every weekend and school holiday. Growing up I was a very sickly baby, which until this day I still am. I was such a drama queen from a very young age, which was a great addition to my family after the loss of my older brother. I even started walking very late, just over the age of two. A normal baby starts walking just after 2 months and by 16, they can walk very well by themselves. No that I was not normal, I was just a fat spoilt baby who was very lazy. All I did was eat and sleep, wake up and sit inside a cardboard box and watch television or sit outside on a blanket while my peers would walk out the house and leave me to go play outside in the streets. I am a rainbow child. My mother's very first baby was born in 1996 and lived for only three days and the morning of the fourth day he passed away due to a lung and kidney condition he was born with. My mother was devastated and until this day, she cannot sum up the courage to go to his grave yet. In December 1997, I was born with the same conditions and doctors said they do not think I will make it to the age of 5. Here I am still breathing, this year I turn 20 years old.  

Class photoshoot at Rainbow Pre-school

                                         

                                                  The "smize' look on my face is priceless. 

                

19 December 1998. My first birthday, also my maternal grandmother's funeral.

Spending the afternoon at home after a long day at pre-school.

April 1998 with my puppy doll, Baba. (I still have this teddy on my bed at home till this day)

My best friend, my mother.

Life prior to varsity

My matric year was a bitter sweet experience. I was never the brightest of my class, but I worked very hard. I heard stories about how matric will make or break you and I feared that it would break me. My mother told me to not fear and that if I prayed and continued working hard, I would reap the fruits of my hard work in the end. I began from day one until the very end and indeed I reaped the fruits of my hard work. Passed my matric with exemption and a distinction in my favourite high school subject. Just after final exams my paternal grandfather got sick and he was later admitted to hospital. I got the shock of my life when I saw him in the hospital bed, as I saw someone totally different from whom I am used to. The saddest part was we would talk and in the middle of the conversation he would not remember who I was. So he would ask who I am, which shattered my heart into a million tiny pieces. Eventually the doctors said he was getting better and I was excited because he promised me a huge gift if I passed my matric well. Fast forward to the day before results would be released at midnight. The mood at home was very dull and I was the only one who was excited, yet anxious at the same time. I did not pay much attention to this until my parents kept taking phone calls away from me when they never do so. Eventually the clock struck midnight and we went to collect the newspaper from the printing offices. I PASSED MY MATRIC WITH EXEMPTION! I was so excited, I could not wait till morning so we could go to my grandfather's house and I could show off my results. When we got back home from the printing offices, my parents told me that it was a bitter sweet day for my family as we were celebrating my results as well as mourning the passing of my grandfather. I was beyond shocked, I could not even say anything. Devastated would be an understatement to describe how I felt on that day. Time passed and February 2016 was here, TIME TO HEAD TO CAPE TOWN. 

Valedictory day at Westering High School in 2016

All smiles as we celebrated the last day as pupils at Westering High School

A group of hard working friends awarded with colours for academics, sport and extra mural activities. 

Goodbye PE, Hello Cape Town

February 2016 I flew to Cape Town and went to register at the University of the Western Cape after I received my final acceptance. I was so happy to be in a new city, a breath of fresh air. My happiness was cut short as there was a lot of corruption involved in terms of residence placement and the people in charge. My room was sold to another person and I had to stay with a friend until the university found an alternative for me. Eventually I was placed into a residence off campus as a first year student who was new to the city and had no relatives. Later into the year, prior to academic disruption due to the #FeesMustFall movement, my roommate and I were almost raped by another student who was chairperson of the house committee of another residence, by the grace of God I managed to escape with a few damages from bumping against the wall whilst I was defending myself. During fees must fall, I was scheduled to write a test on campus. On my way to the venue, minding my own business police cars and a mob of students came out of nowhere and I had to start running as well to protect myself because everyone was running, the officials had opened fire and I was not safe. Unfortunately, I got shot on my back. As a result, I still have problems with my lower back because the officer was so close to me and the shot was direct. Time went by and the new year came by.  Time for new goals and a new vision board for the year. This year started off on a very good note for me. My non profit organisation which I run back home in Port Elizabeth, the Quing Foundation was finally registered and we could start doing big projects, which have been going very well so far. I was chosen to be one of the faces and brand ambassadors for a hair company based in KwaZulu-Natal, Diamond Royalty Hair Couture. My makeup business for me to earn a few extra cents because varsity is a struggle. My initiative "Fantasy to Fairytale" for underprivileged matric girls in need of dresses, makeup and shoes for the matric dance is doing great. My make up business "It's slay o'clock with Aya" is up and running everything is going well, I face a few hurdles here and there, but there is nothing that prayer cannot resolve.

Diamond Royalty Hair Couture ambassadors shoot in Seapoint, Cape Town

DRHC ambassadors, from left Zukhanye Lamani, Ayabulela Mahleza & Anda Maneli

One of my girls we dressed up, did hair and make up for her matric dance, Esethu & I.

My work on Esethu.

Quality hair and happiness is what brings together the DRHC ambassadors.

Future aspirations

I have a vision board that I follow. Goals that I set and would like to achieve in every month before I set bigger goals for the future. All these little achievements are a build up to my bigger goals for the future. My main focus now is to do well in my final exams and get a bursary for my studies. To get a permanent part time job, preferably one I can do online at convenient hours, e.g. online tutoring. Information systems plays a big role in this as it is all about information systems. Communication between myself and the student, the platform in which we use to teach and learn. Programs on the app etc. In 10 years time I see myself graduated with a Masters in Business Administration. A registered Industrial Psychologist, working for South African mine workers. With a family, happily married with a child hopefully. Be at the top of my career as a black woman in the corporate industry, which is by the way male dominated. I also want to evolve as a media personality, I have a deep passion for radio and broadcasting, live productions fascinate me so I really want to get into that field as well. My foundation to not only be based in my hometown, but the country at large. Information systems will help me in the way that everything in this day and age is information systems, whether it is computers or cellphones that we use to do just about everything, that is information systems. Through it, I will be able to help mine workers in the sense that techniques on how to help them with their issues will be created via means of technology. I want to create an app where I will be able to 'council' them online. In this way it will be faster to say or ask things whenever they want. Or if one just wants to vent, rather than having to wait to be helped out. This app will allow them to interact with people who share the same issues they are facing, in this way they will feel more comfortable as they are able to relate and can share ideas on how they deal with certain issues. My foundation will grow, as I have a website the rest of the country can visit and be involved through it. People I have never met can be able to change the life of a underprivileged child without even meeting them.