06/04/2022
Good evening, I am Boitumelo Lewele. I was born in Thaba Nchu, situated in the province of the Free State. My parents were very adventurous so I moved a lot as a child until we settled as a family in Cape Town, Western Cape when I was in grade 7. I am the eldest child of Junia Sebeela and the late Robert Mothusiemang Sebeela.
Growing up I was said to be outspoken and emphatic towards people.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
I completed my high school at Bosmansdam High School, situated in Cape Town. Thereafter I enrolled for my Bachelor in Nursing (Cum Laude) at the University of the Western Cape and recently my Masters in Nursing at the same institution.
DID YOU WISH TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A NURSE? WHAT WERE YOUR DREAMS BEFORE EMBARKING ON THE JOURNEY TO BECOMING A NURSE?
I remember telling my parents that I wanted to become a Gynaecologist when I grew up. That had always been my aspiration, to bring well-being to women. Now, reflecting back on my professional journey, I believe that the dream I had was aligned to who and what I’ve become because maternal and child health is my biggest passion.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Being a nurse is challenging! It is a profession that requires one to introspect and reflect on the “why” the profession choose you. Once you master that, you begin to find the reasons why you enjoy the profession. With that said, what I love the most about my job is the ability to help people in our communities through advocacy, education and empowerment. These three things, help me touch peoples lives in ways that have an immediate, medium and long term impact and that fulfils me!
WHAT AREAS HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED IN WHICH YOU FEEL YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUR JOB?
I believe that as a country, we need to applaud ourselves for the work that we have instilled in the development of equitable and just policies where healthcare is concerned. However, inequalities and injustices still exist in communities where healthcare is rendered. Where we see a misalignment between policy and the reality of the experiences of our people.
As a consequence, that is where I inspire to make the biggest impact by being a change agent and advocacy of the translation of our strong legislations into the doors of healthcare facilities! That would mean empathic experiences for patients, accountability for acts and omissions, destigmatisation of health conditions, illness and diseases and comprehensive, integrated healthcare.
HOW WAS YOUR JOURNEY AND HOW DID IT AFFECT YOUR VIEW OF NURSING? WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE IN NURSING SCHOOL-BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND PRACTICALLY FURTHERMORE, WHAT KEPT YOUR SPIRITS UP AMIDST THOSE CHALLENGES?
Indeed it was a journey, characterised by a flactuation between high and lows - both during my undergraduate and postgraduate study journey.
During my third year of undergraduate, I had to confront my embedded grief. During my second year of postgraduate, I changed jobs and relocated. Both instances are characterised by a shift from my normal, my equilibrium and challenged me and my ability to be driven and persevere mentally and physically.
I appreciate the journey, more so because it was personal and only affected how I viewed myself and found strength within myself. Yes there were times I felt like quitting but I am glad I didn’t!
What kept me going and motivated is my mother - she gave up all her needs and desires to ensure that I have an opportunity of being educated and as a result, independent. She taught me how to pray and even harder when the low blows come. She believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.
I also believe it helps having a good support system and the greatest of that system is my husband. He allows me to follow my passions and dreams without hesitation. He pushes me to be the best I can be by allowing me to step into domains of my strengths while encouraging me in my shortcomings.
HOW HAS YOUR BACKGROUND SHAPED THE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY AND HOW HAS IT INFLUENCED HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB?
I believe that we all come from some where and that place will always be instrumental in the person we ultimately become.
In my case, a moment in my background and life shaped me. At the age of 12, I lost my father. The last words he said to me was “Boitumelo, go to school and excel. I will see you later”. Unfortunately I never saw him again but I treasured those words. That moment, the experience and the memories have definitely influenced how I perform my duties as a professional nurse. I always aim to be emphatic, honest and diligent in my nursing of patients because that is what I experienced at that life changing moment.
It is an aspiration of mine that people will find it within themselves to use their backgrounds, their moments positively to the betterment of who they are in their professions and society as a whole.
*WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS WITHIN THE FIELD?
Goals and dreams are important because they are permanent desires that empower you with vitality.
Currently, my biggest goal is to complete my PhD in Public Health with a focus on governance, health systems and policies.I also hope to one day establish a comprehensive maternal and child health facility.
Both these goals steam from my aspiration in being instrumental in the health sector towards equitable, just and accessible health care services in our communities.
While I anticipate the achievement of those goals, I commit to continue being a noble and diligent professional nurse.
GIVEN A CHANCE, IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR JOURNEY?
The disadvantage of any journey is that we don’t know finish to start. We have to actually start the journey in good faith and understanding of the purpose of the obstacles that we will face. Having understanding that, there is nothing I would change about my journey. As I grew academically, I grew personally, and that is worth all lows and highs of any journey.
*WHAT WORDS OF INSPIRATION WOULD YOU SAY TO ASPIRING NURSES AND COLLEAGUES IN GENERAL?
This is a very humbling question to answer because I believe I still have to grow and evolve. However what I can say is what I’ve been saying:
Go through the journey, never hide from its fires because every moment, every hardship, every challenge and every win in the journey has a lesson. Once you reflect on all those lessons, you come to learn and understand your purpose as a professional.
I would also like to inspire and challenge nurses to commit to the revolution of positively repositioning of the nursing professional in our country.
HAVING LED IN THE STUDENT POPULACE, ARE YOU HAPPY ABOUT THE TRANSITIONS IN THE FIELD? WHAT WOULD YOU DO BETTER IF YOU HAD THE POWER?
One of the best things to happen to me was to be elected as the Deputy Chairperson and subsequently the Chairperson of the UWC Nursing Council. This period allowed me to be a nurse for nurses. It is a chapter I cherish because it formed part of the basis of my ability to empower and advocate for others. I also believe that my time of service as a student leader, prepared me for the fruitful transition in my nursing career.
In my transition, I have grown to love and respect my profession and the health needs of the country. Which is where I would direct my power, if I had any, to strengthen the systems and processes in place to achieve the proposal of the National Development Plan where health is concerned so that I am able to realise an equitable and accessible health sector in my lifetime.
However, because my power remains limited, I will strive to stand for the rightful standing and reputation of the nursing profession. And above all, strive to be instrumental in the provision and access of healthcare services in communities of this Republic.
