We do not always have to learn through unforeseen circumstances!!

It was on a Monday afternoon when I was reading my daily feeds of news on my phone when I came across the terribly awful news about a Public Relations & Communications student, Ayanda Masondo, attending at the University of Johannesburg, who was found dead on her residence door with a pool of blood surrounding her. It was later confirmed that she had consulted an unauthorized establishment practicing illegal abortion.

It was a saddening story to have read of it and could already imagine the thoughts that were running through her mind that could have possibly led to her death. Later that evening, my phone was beeping on and off when my fellow classmate later informed the rest of the PR BBM group that the girl who had passed on was actually our classmate and an image of her as proof was provided. I was really disturbed for a few hours, as I always bumped into her and not even mumbling a single word to her. Part of me really feels that I could have helped in any way possible, nor even sharing a conversation with her to give a better perspective of life.

What makes me even angrier is that everywhere I go, I hear a lot of judgemental individuals who make insulting and abrasive comments towards the situation, which brings me to a conclusion that I should state my take on the matter. We need be aware that many of the young people are faced with challenges that lead them to neither making decisions that are not beneficial to them at all nor the problem itself. I am not saying that her decision was correct or wrong but we need to look at the bigger picture to what drove her to make the decision.

As parents, friends, community and the society at large, we need to be supportive, less judgmental, open minded, submissive, empower, knowledgeable and be more considerate towards unforeseen situations. What we do today has repercussions tomorrow therefore we need to educate one another as communities. The youth ends up in these kinds of situations because there are many things expected from them that they sometimes have to comprise living their lives because they have to please. They need to talk and disclose experiences that would not make them feel inferior and that they may feel free to ask for help when caught up in predicaments that need guidelines to help alleviate the problem. One can be able to disclose such information to an individual that will not judge but rather offer solutions to the problems, such as counselors, psychologists or visiting their websites for help and booking an appointment. We do not always have to learn through unforeseen circumstances!! What had happened was very unfortunate and that I pass on my condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and that may her soul may rest in peace.