After the speech, all the parents who had gathered applauded, and the church was full of rejoice. I even spotted Mrs Magudulela by the church’s door applauding too.

“I may not be perfect, but I’m willing to be a shoulder to cry on for anyone who needs to let the pain out, especially teenagers,” I ended off. I then walked off the stage. My mother, for the first time, seemed so proud of me, and that made me even more ecstatic. She opened her arms widely, and I threw myself in for a hug.

“I am sorry for everything I did to you Azania,” my mother said, smiling at me. “I will help you achieve your goal.”

“I underestimated you, I must agree, and from the bottom of my heart, I am deeply sorry,” Mrs Magadulela said. “I won’t blame others for my actions, and I loved your speech. I will help you reach your potential to show how sorry I am.”

When I was done with my mother and Mrs Magadulela, I ran back to my group members and we hugged.

“At the end of the day, somebody had to say something. You’ve set all of us free!” one of the girls shouted with excitement.

“The flaws of some people lead to horrors inflicted on to others. And there are the more human flaws that, when you shine a light on them, de-demonise people that might otherwise be seen as ogres.” – Jon Ronson.

Steps to recover from public shame: Teenager to teenager

1. Face your nightmares and fears.
2. Don’t be weak and seek the easiest way out.
3. Change your behaviour and prove those who undermined your capabilities wrong.
4. Find a person to open up to, one day the secrets you’re burying will be a lot to endure.
5. Seek advice from elders, they are more efficient.
6. Keeping pain inside your heart will eventually worsen things.
7. Don’t keep tears, cry and heal!
8. Fix your crown and smile again.
9. Some challenges are here to help us grow.
10. Don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself.
11. Don’t be ashamed to speak up if you are under pressure, you don’t deserve it, nobody does!
12. Don’t compete, but complete your task of striving for a better life.
13. You were shamed in public, get fixed in a public space. Overcome your fear of the spotlight.
14. If “she” did it, what can stop you?
15. Patience is a virtue.

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