My name is Thubalakhe Blessed Ngeleka.
I am a Child of God; who is the Founder and CEO of Words of Blessed.
I am a South African and my goal is to become a Management Accountant, whether through SAICA or CIMA.
I have recently been on a journey of self-discovery, so – here’s my story.

This journey is a result of the Lockdown that introduced us to the new normal. Working from home is in violent disagreement with who I am. You see: the separation of work and “residential” environments is how I optimally function.

I am completing my Bachelor’s degree through UNISA and I state without a doubt that their administration is lacking.

Firstly, I had transferred from another institution and the process of recognising my prior education was unnecessarily long. In a nutshell, it only got resolved this year. The decentralised nature of the institution with people not proactively attending to their jobs is what created this issue. A simple surprise surprise – “we need you to do these again” – those which you thought you were done with.

There was an unforeseen, irrational adjustment to the academic year. UNISA introduced a single semester year, and it didn’t make sense to me as it did not benefit those who were already in the system.

At this point, I hope you can feel the weight of this struggle; where an institution that is supposed to assist people in moving their lives forward – is hampering it. This has been my burden for some time; to put it bluntly – it reached my limit.

This resulted in me being fed up with UNISA’s Administration to such a point where I’m not studying as I normally would. It was compounded by Government constantly shifting Lockdown Levels; holding and keeping us further away from meeting with our close circles and living life together.

I required a resolution and I didn’t know what to do or where to go. These issues had reached their limit and speaking about them was an unresolving response; I’ve spoken about it so many times, what more could talking do.

In March 2020, a couple of friends started a WhatsApp Prayer Group; and in January this year, we decided to hold a monthly Zoom call, to minister to each other by Word and in prayer – tackling issues where we as the youth can sit around the table and have constructive dialogue.

On Sunday the 4th of July, we gathered, and the topic was Mental Health. The session spoke to me personally and asked me: At this tipping point, are you mentally well? The simple answer was No!!! These unnecessary struggles and blockades on my journey have been holding me back. I reached out to UNISA’s Counselling Department for online counselling, and an hour in conversation empowered me and challenged me. It left me with some tools and assignments for my identity, growth and development.

The main assignment was to find a personal mission statement – you know entities have their own – we too should live for a mission and a purpose; one unique in all its ways.

I searched the Internet for a resource to find my Personal Mission Statement. Andy Andrews had it, all packaged in a PDF which had me looking deep within myself.

With this resource, I unwrapped myself through it; and I was left unable to sum it up. I had a captivating piece of writing, which defined me entirely; all perfectly worded and put together – every letter in its perfect place.

As a teaser, here are five (5) points:
– Value God and people;
– Live a life with purpose;
– Leave an impact in this world;
– Create content for change; and
– Live life by example.

I called a friend (Nathan Theunis), to guide me in summing it up in a Mission Statement; and he told me he lives by three values (Authenticity, Creativity and Innovation). I showed him the piece of writing and He called it a philosophy, and I have adopted it as such. For this season, I’m holding onto my Philosophy – for not all things are meant to be publicised; some things are meant to be personally held until the due season for all to see; until then – my Philosophy is for me.

With the advice given to me, I then journeyed to find my three (3) values, and they are:
-1-Community;
-2-Equipping and Empowering; and
-3-Unconventional (Innovative)

My Mission Statement which stems from my values is:
“To be rooted in community, equipping and empowering in unconventional ways”

I was then equipped with my Philosophy, Values and Mission Statement in hand. I now journey a road of discovering and unwrapping the deep meaning in these and a journey of living it out daily.

I am Thubalakhe Blessed Ngeleka.