February Editor’s Note

“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.”

So said Michelle Obama. I didn’t get very far in her autobiography Becoming (I said what I said), but this quote is one that stood out from a list of favourites chosen by this month’s cover star, Ogaga Udjo.

That quote embodies the spirit of DESTINY CAREERS (and Udjo’s professional journey): we believe in motion, in evolution, in change, in seeing the world beyond our circumstances. The content we cover is driven by the belief that there’s always more out there: more to do, more to learn, more to be.

Our job is to, even if it’s in a small way, help you navigate your way through those changes and empower you to feel like you can be in charge of them.

As writer Tseliso Monaheng once said to me in a pep talk, given to me at a time when I couldn’t leave the house without crying in the shower first, “everything begins with movement”. Easier said than done, of course, but life is something that is constantly in motion, and it’s best to try and be the one leading that dance, or at least keeping up with it.

In our cover story, Ogaga, the Pretoria-raised aviation consultant who has risen through the ranks of his industry quickly, has some important lessons to share with us; lessons about being true to yourself and figuring out ways to navigate corporate spaces without compromising your values.

This is advice that can apply to anyone, whether you’re still in school or you’ve been in the workplace for several years. It’s worth a read. And to the matrics of 2019, I have some things to say. Firstly, congratulations and well done. Whether you’re going on to study further this year, are taking a break to figure things out or you’re missing tertiary for reasons beyond your control, we wish you a journey that is exciting, filled with hope and growth.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be open to new experiences. Give yourself the room to grow, room to make mistakes and room to change your mind. Be kind to others and most importantly, be kind to yourself.

Until next time.