'I am valid'
Beaulah Boois has used the obstacles that littered her life path as stepping stones to climb not only the corporate ladder, but also to achieve what she is most passionate about in life.
Beaulah Boois is a dedicated and hardworking young lady who overcame adversity and challenges with what seems like remarkable ease. After high school, Boois studied Dental Technology in Cape Town at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) but she has abandoned the dental field to follow her passion in public relations. “After four years I needed to change my field of study to follow my dream of working in the media,” she said. Boois enrolled at the University of Namibia (Unam) to pursue her dream and opted for an Honours degree in Media Studies and since then, she has not looked back. She said during her studies, she was an intern at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) where she worked hard and showed her supervisors that she was a born PR practitioner. “I love what I do so much that I can barely call it a job. Every single day is unique and fun! I also have the most amazing mentors, Umpi Karuaihe-Upi and Ockert Jansen,” Boois said. She added that every day she has something she learns from her mentors at her workplace who freely share their wisdom and vast experience with her.
Boois also said after realising that she was not passionate about dental technology she made a fundamental decision to change courses in 2011. “I've always loved writing and when I sat in my very first Media Studies class, I knew I had found my calling in life.”
She said her first boyfriend in high school used to physically and emotionally abuse her. “It was only after four years that I was strong enough to let go and walk away,” she shared her traumatic romance with The Zone. She maintains that she does not like calling herself a victim because she feels that would still give the abuser power over her and hence her preference to use the word 'survivor'. “I now know my value and my worth and will never allow anybody to abuse me in any way, shape or form again,” she declared.
She maintains that she is a strong and outspoken woman and once she sets her mind on achieving something, she rarely gives up and will do everything in her power to reach the goals she has set. “This is why the transformation from dental technology to public relations was easy for me.”
She describes herself as a multi-talented person who is always open to work in different settings saying she has keen interest in public relations, radio and television voice overs, marketing, event planning and enjoys doing yoga in her leisure time.
“I also consider myself as a social butterfly that thrives from networking and mingling,” Boois described herself.
Boois credits her daughter, Clarissa Yvonne Boois as her source of inspiration who keeps her going and motivates to be a better person. Boois regards her daughter as her number-one cheerleader who motivates her to be what she aspired to be and to do more in life. “She makes me want to be the best of me. I can be for her sake because I know that she looks up to me. I want to lead by example as my parents did,” she said.
Boois also has a blog about motherhood, the journey and experiences she encounters as a mother with the hope that other young mothers like her will be inspired to do everything in their power to give their children the best. “I have learned that raising a child is the most rewarding job on this planet and that being the best mom means being there for your child. Motherhood has taught me to lead by example. Being a good role model for my daughter is my number-one priority,” Boois said.
She points out the lack of childcare facilities at places of work as a challenge for many young women pursuing careers. “Mothers often have to leave their children with a nanny or enrol them at a crèche at a very young age so that they may be able to get back to work after maternity leave is over. However, with childcare facilities available at work places, mothers would be able to breastfeed during lunch hour for example,” she said.
“She added that in her field of work, there are times when she has to work late and there are other women in the newsroom for example, who would appreciate the extra care. She maintains that being a working mother on its own is a challenge, because a lot of women juggle between being a homemaker and being a productive employee. “I believe this challenge can be lessened with longer maternity leave and the provision of satellite offices and flexi time,” she suggested.
Boois envies young people who make things happen for themselves and people who grab opportunities with both hands and put in 100% effort and time into projects. “As a gender-based violence survivor, I always preach self-love because when you love yourself, the chances of you allowing another human being to abuse you is narrowed to zero,” she said. She adds that she is inspired mostly by women who can walk away from situations where their lives, well-being and general sanity are threatened. “I hope that my story shows other young women that there is life after abuse and that standing up and speaking out might just save the life of someone else in an abusive relationship,” Boois said.
She said hosting the television programme “For Your Info” on NBC is one of her highlights in her career thus far. The show is a five-minute 'question and answer' segment that informs the public about the ins and outs of the national broadcaster.
Asked about her future plans, Boois said she is eyeing attaining a Master's degree and working her way up the corporate ladder. “With great leadership and mentors in the work place, my dreams are valid,” she said.
MICHAEL KAYUNDE
Boois also said after realising that she was not passionate about dental technology she made a fundamental decision to change courses in 2011. “I've always loved writing and when I sat in my very first Media Studies class, I knew I had found my calling in life.”
She said her first boyfriend in high school used to physically and emotionally abuse her. “It was only after four years that I was strong enough to let go and walk away,” she shared her traumatic romance with The Zone. She maintains that she does not like calling herself a victim because she feels that would still give the abuser power over her and hence her preference to use the word 'survivor'. “I now know my value and my worth and will never allow anybody to abuse me in any way, shape or form again,” she declared.
She maintains that she is a strong and outspoken woman and once she sets her mind on achieving something, she rarely gives up and will do everything in her power to reach the goals she has set. “This is why the transformation from dental technology to public relations was easy for me.”
She describes herself as a multi-talented person who is always open to work in different settings saying she has keen interest in public relations, radio and television voice overs, marketing, event planning and enjoys doing yoga in her leisure time.
“I also consider myself as a social butterfly that thrives from networking and mingling,” Boois described herself.
Boois credits her daughter, Clarissa Yvonne Boois as her source of inspiration who keeps her going and motivates to be a better person. Boois regards her daughter as her number-one cheerleader who motivates her to be what she aspired to be and to do more in life. “She makes me want to be the best of me. I can be for her sake because I know that she looks up to me. I want to lead by example as my parents did,” she said.
Boois also has a blog about motherhood, the journey and experiences she encounters as a mother with the hope that other young mothers like her will be inspired to do everything in their power to give their children the best. “I have learned that raising a child is the most rewarding job on this planet and that being the best mom means being there for your child. Motherhood has taught me to lead by example. Being a good role model for my daughter is my number-one priority,” Boois said.
She points out the lack of childcare facilities at places of work as a challenge for many young women pursuing careers. “Mothers often have to leave their children with a nanny or enrol them at a crèche at a very young age so that they may be able to get back to work after maternity leave is over. However, with childcare facilities available at work places, mothers would be able to breastfeed during lunch hour for example,” she said.
“She added that in her field of work, there are times when she has to work late and there are other women in the newsroom for example, who would appreciate the extra care. She maintains that being a working mother on its own is a challenge, because a lot of women juggle between being a homemaker and being a productive employee. “I believe this challenge can be lessened with longer maternity leave and the provision of satellite offices and flexi time,” she suggested.
Boois envies young people who make things happen for themselves and people who grab opportunities with both hands and put in 100% effort and time into projects. “As a gender-based violence survivor, I always preach self-love because when you love yourself, the chances of you allowing another human being to abuse you is narrowed to zero,” she said. She adds that she is inspired mostly by women who can walk away from situations where their lives, well-being and general sanity are threatened. “I hope that my story shows other young women that there is life after abuse and that standing up and speaking out might just save the life of someone else in an abusive relationship,” Boois said.
She said hosting the television programme “For Your Info” on NBC is one of her highlights in her career thus far. The show is a five-minute 'question and answer' segment that informs the public about the ins and outs of the national broadcaster.
Asked about her future plans, Boois said she is eyeing attaining a Master's degree and working her way up the corporate ladder. “With great leadership and mentors in the work place, my dreams are valid,” she said.
MICHAEL KAYUNDE
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