DRUGS, teenage pregnancies, peer group pressure and the choices teenagers make which have an enormous impact on their future, were the topics of discussion during a school based support program hosted at Uitenhage High School.
It was held in collaboration with the Kamesh Youth Crime Prevention Desk, with motivational speaker Nazley Arendse in attendance.
“The futility of youth is that you think it’s fun doing what you know is not right. The fun may last a moment, but the consequences will affect your future,” said Nazley Arendse, Mrs Eastern Cape 2018.
“When I was young, I met this tall, dark and handsome guy I thought the world of. But he was a broken person in himself, therefore he could not handle me, but instead broke me down emotionally. What I thought was love, isolated me from my friends. Eventually I ended in the wrong crowd and fell pregnant when I was in Grade 10.
“What hurt me the most was disappointing my mother. No sorry in the world can change that moment of you losing your youth. I was so embarrassed,” said Nazley.
Lacking identity is according to her, the drive for getting involved in wrong crowds and substance abuse.
Nazley restored her life through turning to the spiritual path. She pursued and completed her school career and nowadays is a successful business woman and motivational speaker.
“I am a spirit, I have a soul and live in the body. My spirit makes me who I am. If you are looking for true happiness, be a person of value,” said Nazley.
She challenged the learners to “be the best now, not tomorrow … you were made with a purpose, for a purpose, on purpose … so be aspris!”
