I came clean at the age of 26, four and half years ago. For three years I stayed in Klerksdorp in the North West with my parents. I ran a nursery school with only black children for two of those years and it was a great time of self-discovery and growth. I stayed away from the wrong places and people and managed to live a clean life for a long time.

Just as you’d think I was done with foolish things, I fell pregnant. Once more I had to go to my parents and tell them that I was pregnant with an old high school flame. We didn’t have a relationship and we never would, as he lived in Cape Town. It happened while I was on holiday there for two weeks.

After the initial shock of being a single mother, I found peace and that is when my life truly changed for the good.

Now Shelby is two and a half and I have never looked back. Now I dance to the Barney song and I pack school lunches and sing kiddies songs in the car. I know that Shelby was given to me as a gift and not a punishment. She is one of the biggest reasons that I am a completely different person today.

I now live in Cape Town and I am a PA to two directors. I am happier than I have ever been in my whole life and I will never regret the things I have been through. I am only thankful that I could find freedom and thus, reach out to help anyone who may be going through a similar situation.

For many years I lived a life believing in many lies – that I would never amount to much, that I would never fulfil my vision. I believed I was a pathetic and weak person. Today I finally see that I a strong and unique person, who can achieve anything I set my mind to.

Life is all about mind-set! I choose to reject all negative thoughts and fill my mind with healthy, positive and holy things. Try it!