SelfServiceSeries___Sphume Ndlovu___

 

 

 

I am Sphumelele Ndlovu born in the small town called Mandeni moved to the city of Durban in my late teens but now based in Empangeni in the pursue of success as a Environmental Coordinator at Dudula Environmental. No different from Vuyo, I am a big dreamer (I one day wish to own a small portion of some Island). Strongly believe in education. Don't think I could ever be a housewife if it only entailed shopping and other frivolous activities, really do love to challenge myself. Most importantly I'm God sent.

 Apart from studying what are you busy with right now?

- I have just entered the cooperate world where I'm working as an Environmental Coordinator for a project funded by The Department of Environmental Affairs as an aim to alleviate poverty whiles creating Environmental awareness, main objective is to ensure that the program meets government standards without neglecting Environmental regulations.

 Have you done anything lately worth remembering?
 - I recently went to Mozambique for my 23rd birthday celebration which proved to be my most enjoyed birthday weekend thus far. I was highly intrigued by the local’s work ethic but mostly captivated by the beauty of the environment, vibe and culture which is enough to make one over stay their welcome. The night life is no different from day time, people pop locking on every corner kind of reminded me of the festive season (which I can't wait for might I add)....Yes boys I'm sure you wondering if the people are beautiful as said to be...No comment. BUT ladies if ever you were wondering how to nurse a broken Heart I highly recommend you pack your bags and you will realize that life has better things to offer or should I say better people.* lol*

How do you handle mistakes in life?
- Mistakes often involve me giving out my old digits aside from that I never make mistakes but instead I view any undesirable outcome as a learning curve or better yet as one step closer to being wiser.

Who is your fashion inspiration?
-Chilled out fun with a dash of vintage.

How do you balance your job and studies with other obligations – friends, spiritual life, family and other activities?
- I have often lost friends due to the lack of my balancing skills but those that truly know me will understand my work ethic. In everything that I do there comes a time where I push myself beyond my limit and as a result everything else takes a back seat, I can't help but challenge myself as we are our biggest competitors and I'm lucky enough to come from a family which generally believes in hard work. In terms of spiritually I try by all means to balance my life according to Gods teachings and standards not the other way around as He is my all.

Where do you source your strength to keep pushing and doing what you love?

- I get the strength in doing what I love as I really love the environment and working with people of different backgrounds, the open air infused with that thrilling feeling of not knowing if you will be either stung by a swamp of bees or shaken by the sight of a snake bigger than the average person’s arm.

Pet peeve?

- I can't stand plastic conversations and people who have nothing encouraging to say about others.

What don’t people know about you?

- I never hold grudges, holding a grudge is like having poison only to expect the other person to die.
- I’ve got the best dance moves to date (dancing on tables with boys, which is an expression I use to describe the extent of fun I have on the dance floor).
- Unlike most girls I can wash two cars in just under an hour (don't ask)!

If failure wasn’t an option, what would you pursue?
- Everything that I am currently doing and being a shoe designer (which I'm looking into).

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

- My fun filled heart makes me 2years old, my level of focus leaves me at my late twenties but my face tells a different teen story, so I've been told.

Night out or indoor dinner with friends?

- Indoor dinner with my lovely’s

List 3 of your favourite things.

- Perfume, running shoes and music.

Complete this sentence. Happiness is… within. Simply meaning you cannot seek happiness from material things nor expect other people to fill that void if you yourself are lost in concept.

How important is image to you being a young black woman, and do you ever feel pressured to look or be a certain way?
- My job requires 80% of my time to be spent on the field which makes it acceptable for me to spend nothing more than 5minutes when getting ready for work after my morning jog. For me Image is a term used to restrict people from being who they are. For a day to day living, image does not necessarily matter to me, it’s more of how one carries themself that should matter because at the end of it all we all have different taste so what seems to be acceptable to me might not be to you however I cannot deny the fact that as members of society we do have to conform to certain norms. This takes me back to my first year at Ukzn Howard College, I can proudly say this was a time I didn't care about what anybody said (not that I do much now), I did my own thing, and followed no trend, I conceded being an outlandish 'weirdo' only because I dared to be different. Maybe going bald might serve as an indication of how I do what I want and when I want because at the end of the day my looks can never measure up to my brain (Don't get me wrong, by no means am I promoting a rag doll nation).

Describe your style as far as fashion.

- Right now I'm on a self-reinvention limbo but I sure do Love the Olsen twins.

Quote?

-“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”― John Lennon