Few days ago I had one of those days when you can't wait to get home, take your shoes off and drink a glass of wine. I had been at school from 8am in the morning trying to sort out issues around my registration and getting recognition for the modules I did in my previous degree. I woke up bright and early determined to beat the queues and finish early but I had another thing coming as students were there in numbers when I got there. I stood in 1 queue for what seemed like forever, 2 hours to be exact, only to be told I was in the wrong queue.
I was pointed in what was said to be the right queue but the lady there couldnt help me either. At least the queue there was shorter. Went to the third point now, walking around mind you in the blazing sun and just feeling irritable and annoyed. Got there and was told it's the wrong point and was sent to another one. QUEUE AGAIN! At that moment I have to admit that my patience levels were non existent and anything and everything just seemed to annoy me. I have yet to master this virtue they call patience, still have a long way to go. I eventually got assistance at the last point and by then I had already missed 2 classes despite being on campus since 8am. It was just after midday.
I took a taxi home and put on my headsets, determined to push the happenings of the day to the back of my mind but not feeling any less annoyed at this stage. I always have my headsets packed in my bag for days like these when I just want to get home and not have anyone try to start a conversation with me along the way. I got off at my stop, went to the local spaza to get a few necessities and this boy, couldn't have been more than 13 years of age, approaches me and asks me to buy bread for him to eat when he gets home.
What caught my attention was that he didn't ask for money, he asked that I buy him food so I believed his request was genuine. A closer look at him and his uniform is not only dirty but torn so I asked him to come closer. He goes on to explain after questioning him that he lives with his mom and grandmother and both are unemployed so there is no food in the house. I buy him milk and bread and give him a R10 and walk away.
But my heart is tearing from the inside, so many questions run through my mind and I wonder how they survive. Here I am annoyed at the day I had and this boy is walking back from school, probably tired and wondering what he is going to eat when he gets home. I can't help but be thankful, for my life and all that I have. It's not much but at least my family and I don't go to bed on an empty stomach.
I am overwhelmed but I know that I must do my part to change the world. It may not be the whole world but if I can change one person's life I would have done more than enough. Walking home after that encounter, I saw the importance of following through with my vision for Born To Conquer.
