# 9

 

Nelene van der Westhuizen

 

Hearing this name might let you think that she is an ordinary girl who joined a sorority just to flirt with boys and to be trendy with everything related to fashion, but man can I tell you that you would be so wrong! Nelene van der Westhuizen, first of a very professional but down to earth woman, is an individual who embodies a life of passionate priorities and a community driven social life.

 

As a youngster, Nelene made choices based on a very complicated mindset and outlook on life that contributed to the academic decisions that she has made what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Falling in love with people, specifically more so in children, and being an entertainer made it difficult for her to balance the two heart-filled passions and dropping one for the other is still to this day definitely not an option for her.

 

Graduating with a degree in Education Cum Laude, engaging in projects at the OFM radio station, and also started at Randburg High School as an English teacher at the end of 2016, Nelene literally lived the best of both worlds with a strong sense of stability and surroundings of a youthful community.

 

Even though Nelene already set out her future plans, life has a very twisted way of either postponing those plans or to completely put it down. In 2008 Nelene was faced with what she describes as one of the most difficult and heartbroken times in her life. That year was described as a tremendous sad one with the loss of her father due to kidney failure, and social and academic pressure at her school. During this difficult period, Nelene realized that she started to develop the art of storytelling and through different methods from singing to acting. But unfortunately, she found it difficult to balance her cultural activities and having a social life at school. This led to her changing to different schools during 8th grade till the point where she schooled at where she is teaching at the moment. Pursuing her love for these activities led to circumstances where Nelene was a victim of extreme bullying, causing the change of moving to the school where she graduated and as mentioned, and teaching.

 

This period in her life allowed her to realize that she must not allow people or circumstances to define her life and change her goals of becoming who she really wants to be in the professional and personal lifestyle. This realization was one of many positive results all thanks to the great support system she was provided with from her mother.

 

Given her history of being victimized and tormented by bullies, Nelene’s passion still remained strong and with that, she felt even more in love with meeting people, especially those that bursts with uniqueness, creativity and living the unordinary life! The reason for this is quite simple – her mission is to inspire! Nelene is adamant to create a platform where she can help make a difference in any community that is driven to follow their dreams and to make a difference, al be it being a teacher or an actress.

 

Yes, an actress! Nelene has subtly been busy with projects in the film industry. She will feature in the Afrikaans film “Vuil Wasgoed” set to release this December, acting alongside singer and actor Bouwer Bosch. She was also recently part of a short film project known as “Appel”, for musician Christoph Kotzè, and will also be part of another music video this month with the talented “JUST MIA”.

 

So her first desire of being an entertainer is currently well underway, and her second one is ready to go. Nelene’s determination to inspire people is so intense that she already started forming a concept show consisting of retelling people’s stories and using said stories to inspire others. I am not hinting that it may be have been a coincidence that Nelene and Weekly Al’s path has crossed, but I can definitely say with a 100 guarantee that it is faith that made her path crossed with Weekly Al.

 

Living by the famous words of Jon Bon Jovi’s golden hit ”It’s my life” and relating to the Disney character Merida from the movie “Brave”, Nelene made it clear that “we are all living in the gutters, but only some of us are looking at the stars.” It is astounding how much hope this lady has for her fellow citizens and by saying this she also requested and implored that every single individual of South Africa who reads her story should do the following:

 

Go for what you want and work for what you want. It is not always the most skilled people who get the job but rather the ones who show pure commitment and dedication, and who will always be willing to listen and eager to learn from others. Go for every interview or audition, steal with your ear whenever people are talking, and observe how people get by and how they react, and finally grab hold of any opportunity that comes your way that will contribute to your dream no matter the size of the contribution. Nelene also adds that life is like a bow and arrow. An arrow can only be launched when pulled backward…so when life is pulling you backward with its challenges and difficulties be sure to know that you are aimed to being launched into a life with great opportunities and lifestyles.

 

I am ending this story by saying that never have I been so happy to have misjudged Nelene and getting to know her, a passionate woman filled with determination who makes it her life’s mission to make a difference in the lives of not only the South African community, but also reaching out to the lives of an international audience. May she be blessed with what is set out for her and it was a pure pleasure meeting such a superstar. Like Nelene said, steal with your ear cause you might definite hear some exciting news about this lady.

 

Cheers for this week,

 

WA