Zoleka Mandela Reflects On A Time When She Prioritized Alcohol Drugs & Sex Over Her Children
Zoleka Mandela Reflects On A Time When She Prioritized Alcohol Drugs & Sex Over Her Children. Zoleka Mandela is proof that it’s never to late to rewrite your story in an Instagram post where she looked back on how far she has come in her career journey.
Zoleka took to social media to share a precious memory of her graduation in 2018, which reminded her of how her grandmother Mama Winnie Mandela spent so much money on her education, whereas she was more focused on sex, drugs and alcohol more than anything else.
“(2018) … You guys, this picture makes me proud and extremely heartbroken and I’ll tell you why. My Day One (my grandmother) spent so much money on my education but year in and year out, I continued to choose alcohol, sex and drugs over not just my own children but my education” Zoleka wrote.
She went on to express that her journey to the Psychology qualification that she currently possesses took a couple of detours until she finally graduated and her grandmother was present celebrate her success .
” I was proud, being privileged enough to pay for my own education, We got dressed together, got our make up done together, drove together, took loads of pictures together and had a celebratory dinner together too! She even had us wearing matching outfits!!! Her voice was the loudest when my degree was conferred to me, she stood up and yelled, “MADLOMO!!! I cried immediately when I saw her and when I looked at the expression on her face” Zoleka said.
She concluded the lengthy post by urging those who have walked in similar shoes to not give up no matter their age, because it’s never to late to turn your life around.
“even if I graduated at 38yrs old and after 11yrs. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO REWRITE YOUR LIFE STORY, believe that!!!” the activist wrote.
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(2018) … You guys, this picture makes me proud and extremely heartbroken and I’ll tell you why. My Day One (my grandmother) spent so much money on my education but year in and year out, I continued to choose alcohol, sex and drugs over not just my own children but my education. I matriculated back in 1999, registered for a BA in Psychology in 2000, failed and dropped out of varsity almost every year until I eventually left for good in 2007. Last year (2017), I registered for 8 modules at Unisa (which I completed in 2 semesters) – I was proud, being privileged enough to pay for my own education. My Day One was hospitalized in February (quite critical) and I made the decision not to attend my graduation without her, there was honestly no longer any point … BUT you know what? In March this year, not only did I finally GRADUATE and get my BA in Psychology (I majored in Criminology too), I had My Day One with me. We got dressed together, got our make up done together, drove together, took loads of pictures together and had a celebratory dinner together too! She even had us wearing matching outfits!!! Her voice was the loudest when my degree was conferred to me, she stood up and yelled, “MADLOMO!!! I cried immediately when I saw her and when I looked at the expression on her face. I actually cried so much when we arrived (I felt undeserving, overwhelmed and in disbelief that I actually did it), I was so scared too so she held my hand the whole way, in the car. Now I have tears in my eyes because, after everything I put her through (I lied to her, disappointed her, stole from her, humiliated, angered and hurt her so much over the years), BUT that night, you guys … I totally made her proud! This is an exceptionally proud moment in my life, even if I graduated at 38yrs old and after 11yrs. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO REWRITE YOUR LIFE STORY, believe that!!! I wanted to do my Honours next year but since life is just happening, 2020 (at the age of 40) it is … And I know she’ll be there too, just as proud if not more!!! #NeverTooLateToRewriteYourLifeStory #ZolekaMandela #ZolekaMandelaFoundation #WhenHopeWhispers
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