Don’t judge a book by its cover; as much as you can’t judge a man by the price of his clothes. Don’t judge a man by his clothes because there is often a good deal of solid worth and a genuine heart beneath the rags he is wearing. The true value and worth of a human is NOT materialistic!

You look at me, then you look away, because there is nothing to look at. At first glance, you will find that there is nothing to look at because I have got nothing to offer – not a single labelled item on my body; just rags to keep me warm and my body covered. In this materialistic world, I am at the bottom of the food chain.

I come from an under-privileged society. A place defined by poverty, illiteracy at its highest rate – yet I am hungry for education. I yearn for knowledge, while I seek wisdom and practice intelligence to pursue my dreams. Wisdom buried beneath the aged minds of people who have given up on life. I come from an area where success is defined by tavern owners; Happiness is bought in a bottle of beer.

A man’s sorrows are drowned in alcohol but somehow swim up again in the morning. The Youth – the tears of orphans drown the land. Some call us the lost generation, when we are just trying to find our way. We are the future, but how can we create a better future today when we are blinded by drugs? We all want to get to a high level in life, but instead of climbing the ladder to success and reaching the top, we choose to get high on drugs.

I REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES!
I CHOOSE TO RISE ABOVE IT ALL!
THERE IS MORE TO ME THAN MY BACKGROUND!
I CHOOSE TO RISE ABOVE IT ALL!

Do NOT judge this book by its cover, because I have an interesting story to tell!

I am the author of my book and I’d rather have a cover that is not attractive but a story that is worth reading. Do not make the mistake of judging my future based on my past and don’t judge me by my appearance because deep within I possess a GREAT MIND! A mind which allows me to see beyond the horizon and UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL I WAS BORN WITH. A GENUINE HEART AND A SOUL WHICH YEARNS FOR SUCCESS.

I choose to be part of the solution and not the problem! It all starts in my MIND! That’s why I believe that I can! I can move mountains! My belief and confidence are strong enough and I can achieve what I set my mind to! I CANNOT allow fear to hold me back from achieving MY GOALS. I CANNOT allow small minds to make me believe that my dreams are too BIG.

I refuse to set the sky as the limit because I can reach Mars! I refuse to limit myself here on earth because there are footsteps on the moon! I can, because I am ABLE to do whatever I set my mind to! I am a child of God, and therefore I can proudly tell you that I was destined to succeed, for my Father is a God of greatness! Don’t judge a book by its cover! I did not come empty-handed into this world, but I am armed with the tools to succeed and the weapons to conquer.

My appearance may not grab your attention at first glance, but dear- do not just look but see: see that I AM A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH. DO NOT underestimate me, thinking that I was born to exist and not live. In me lives an eagle, ready to soar. I was born to fly! Do not put a full stop for me in my book of life, because the story is not yet over until I say it is over!

I AM NOMUSA KHUMALO AND I AM THE ONLY AUTHOR TO THE DICTIONARY THAT DEFINES ME!