I am POSSIBLE

by Tshepang Smock (South Africa)

A leap into the unknown South Africa

I remember the day I left home, coming to Johannesburg on May 2018, and it was a challenge for me, since I had nobody I knew in the city. I had to look for accommodation online, and I ended up finding a hostel. I am passionate about being storyteller, I am huge fan of Film and TV so coming to a big city was my only option, to pursue my dream job. However things did not turn out as I thought when I got here, things were not easy, I had to find a job, which I did, I started working as "massage therapist", and I hardly survived on the salary I was getting. I did not have enough money to buy blankets to keep me warm since it was winter, and I had to sleep with an empty stomach because I did not have enough money to buy food too, all I can be grateful for is having a roof over my head. To be honest when I got Johannesburg life was not the way I expected it to be, but still I chose stay, and regardless of what I had to go through staying here, I wanted to continue being in a big city, because I knew what I wanted, I wanted to be close to my dream career, and giving up "going back home" or "getting a blesser" was not on my options. I kept on pushing myself to look for opportunities that could help me to get what I want. Fortunate enough few months later of struggle and searching, I finally found an opportunity to study one year Graphic Design in 2019 and I got accepted. Even though it wasn't exactly what I was looking for but it was a stepping stone for me. It was an opportunity for me to get started with my career. Above everything that was happening on my journey, I didn't think I would find love in the big city.