She’s a final year Audiology student, a social change maker, an entrepreneur, and the founder and host of an online talk show Get Real With Romanda (GRWR). Romanda is here to make her mark on the world, and today we get to know her a little better.
You are an audiology student, model, social change-maker and so much more. Please tell us more about your journey and how you got to where you are now?
I believe this is still the beginning of my journey! I am blessed to have loved ones who are so supportive of my dreams and inspire me to work for something greater than myself. I began working at a young age, then at 18 years, I had the chance to work as a copywriter for an IT and digital marketing company. This made me realise how much the world has to offer, and how much value I could bring to any room. It was a defining moment in my life as it allowed me to dream, constantly learn and start growing beyond my immediate environment. This experience taught me so much about going after things that are beyond my wildest imaginations, but also about how a lot still needs to be done to ensure the youth and women are decision-makers in their fields.
What inspired you to pursue a career in audiology? Was this always a field you were interested in?
My passion for helping people evolved when I was volunteering as a tutor in high school, assisting learners from disadvantaged communities with extra lessons. This made me eager to pursue a career that would help make a difference in people’s lives, daily.
When I got to matric I had to make a decision. I sought advice from the school therapist, who helped me take an aptitude test which showed Audiology as one of my choices. I later spoke to my Life Science teacher who gave me more information about the choices I had. I found a local audiologist to shadow over the school holidays and this was such an eye-opening experience. I loved how personal the approach to healthcare was. Seeing her engage with different patients so attentively, and how the patients’ faces would light up once she assisted them warmed my heart. Thankfully the opportunity to pursue Audiology came in the first week of University, and I haven’t looked back since.
What are some basic tips on ear health and care that you think people should always keep in mind?
Ears are such an intimate part of the body, try to avoid using cotton buds – this will help prevent wax plugs and irritation of your ear canals.
It is important to protect yourself from loud sounds that could impact your hearing. Please limit long exposure to loud noises, if you love listening to music with headsets, make use of the health app. Most devices have a tab that monitors noise levels when you listen to music with headsets and indicates if your music is too loud, this can guide you and prevent some noise-induced damage.
For little ones, make sure they receive a hearing screening as soon as possible! If your child didn’t get an opportunity to get their hearing screened, it’s never too late!
Lastly, if you ever feel pain in your ears, struggle with your balance or notice that you are frequently asking others to repeat themselves during conversations – book an appointment with an audiologist near you. Audiologists are health care professionals who identify, assess and manage pathologies of hearing, balance and other neural disorders. So don’t take your hearing health lightly, the sooner a problem is identified – the better your quality of life can be.
As a social change maker, you have an Instagram TV mini-series called, ‘Get Real With Romanda’ or GRWR. (Which we love by the way). You take the time to interview, or converse, with other influential and social change making people, thus, bringing about awareness on important topics. What prompted you to start the series?
I am so honoured that you find value in the show, that makes it all worth it! GRWR allows me to use my voice and uplift others in the process. My online talk show began in June 2020, once I realized the youth had so much value to add and needed a platform to amplify their voices. I wanted to create a space where people can feel free and be open about topics that aren’t in mainstream media. GRWR allows people to be heard by a community similar to them – trying to figure life out and tired of banging on closed doors. I am so thankful for what GRWR is growing into! We can now design and sell apparel and help girls in high school with stationery and sanitary products while driving important conversations. I’d like to raise uncomfortable conversations on a continental level and motivate others to continue to speak out, without shame or fear.
What are some topics that you cover on GRWR and how do you go about the process of choosing a guest and topic?
We have been able to speak about a wide range of topics from gender-based violence, mental health, period poverty and even financial literacy to name a few. Each topic is guided by issues the youth face, pray for and show a willingness to encourage a culture of learning. Each speaker is chosen with the values of authenticity and passion in mind. Sometimes we have viewers suggest different topics and speakers they would love for that topic, which is great to engage with our community. Other times I come across influential people who inspire me to do more, these are the ones who surprisingly have been the most humble and kind-hearted people who not only add value to the show but pour light and wisdom into my life.
We have seen that you are/were a former Miss SA contestant? How has that journey been for you?
I love what the Miss South Africa platform stands for, how it encourages women to be the best versions of themselves and actively be change-makers in our communities! I enjoyed the experience, I am so proud of myself for being brave enough to take such a huge bet on myself. I hope that it inspired those around me to fearlessly chase their dreams and know that as they are, they are enough and are capable of remarkable things.
You must have faced some challenges whilst pursuing and creating all that you do. How do you pull yourself out of any slumps and move forward?
What helps me is staying in a state of curiosity. Telling myself every step of the way that I am still learning. That I will make mistakes and that is okay – as long as I am learning there is a chance to do better. This helps me when I feel stuck or don’t know how to keep going, as I reach out for help from my loved ones. Whatever we do, I know we tend to be our toughest critics, sometimes taking a moment to pray and rest helps so much. Remind yourself how far you have come because you are one step closer than you were before. Don’t bottle things up, it’s a great stress reliever and speaking allows you to analyze things from a different perspective.
It is Women’s Month, a time to celebrate the best of and about being a woman. As a woman actively trying to make a change, what is it about being a woman that makes you proud?
The greatest thing about being a woman is the strength in our softness, our ability to be so multi-faceted and be fully present in all that we do. Women’s Day celebrates the beautiful legacy of the women who came before us and shows us how we can make a meaningful difference when we work together. I hope we continue to have a lifestyle where women embrace and support each other. Let us not have a spirit of timidness but one filled with courage, one that trusts that our value stems from within and knows that we are our greatest power. May we be a generation of women that understands how much we have to offer and isn’t afraid to go after what we want while feeding our souls.
What are some things that have empowered you as a woman growing up?
I was raised by a village of intelligent, compassionate and hard-working women. I have seen how resolute my mother and her sisters are in pursuing their dreams while helping others without ever expecting anything in return. This instilled a strong sense of care, discipline and courage in me, which I am extremely thankful for. It made me see women as trailblazers instead of supporting characters. I hope that my life can celebrate all the amazing things they have paved the way for me to be able to do. They keep me rooted and remind me what really matters in life.
Can you please share some words of encouragement or advice to the woman, students, and people who are trying to make a change?
Don’t box yourself up, there really aren’t any limits. If your mind can think it, you can achieve it. My advice is to try to position yourself for greatness by removing distractions and negative self-talk. You are capable of pursuing that dream. Start believing it is possible for you and surround yourself with like-minded dreamers. Teach yourself, read, look for the failures. Build thick skin to not allow what people say to determine whether you go forward or not. Being a change-maker means you will be critiqued, as you’re putting yourself out there, be ready for everything it comes with. To be empowered, be willing to learn from everyone from parking attendants, people who clean houses, and whoever you come across. Another thing is that you are only as great as you treat yourself, so in the process of trying to change the world, always prioritize your wellbeing!
Lastly, what are some of your aspirations for the future?
I believe with time there are so many incredible things I will get to do and be involved in. I would love GRWR to grow into a pan-African platform where the youth can openly share what matters to them, challenge societal norms and magnify positive change. I aspire to become an audiologist that is involved in the decision-making of policies related to the field and continue to advocate for audiological services for all. I acknowledge that dreams are often crushed by circumstances. The GRWR conversations tackle a lot of things at once, and behind the scenes, we work tirelessly to ensure that we are the change we want to see. I am launching a natural hair care brand soon. This has been a passion project for the longest time. I am so excited for naturalists to finally get their hands on our products; I hope we can empower young ladies with work and development opportunities!
Words: Thuveshnie Govender | Photography: Courtesy Images
