Becoming More: A Journey of Patience, Purpose & Growth
Melissa Hlophe
I was born and raised in Cape Town and much of my childhood was spent in Philippi, a township, where my mother raised my brother and I on her own.
Life was not easy. We lived in a single rented room, the three of us sharing one bed and a communal outside toilet. There was no privacy or extra space, so my brother would have to wait outside whilst I bathed. My mother owned a small spaza shop while also working as a waitress to provide for us. She worked long hours waitressing and managing the spaza shop whilst raising us.
Looking back, I realise just how much she sacrificed to make sure we survived and, more importantly, continued to believe that there could be something more for us in the future.
Growing up, I was a quiet child. People often mistook my silence for a lack of confidence or ability because I was not outspoken. I mostly kept to myself. On weekends, my brother and I would help my mother at the spaza shop; from a young age I was learning lessons about responsibility, resilience and hard work.
When I was in Grade 9, my mother managed to buy a house in Khayelitsha and we moved there. This was a major milestone for our family and a reminder of what was possible through determination and sacrifice.
At school, I began pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. I joined the chess and debating teams to build my confidence and improve my communication skills. One of the most difficult moments came when I was selected to compete at chess nationals but couldn’t attend because we could not afford the costs involved. At the time, it was heartbreaking. Looking back now, however, I understand that not every missed opportunity means the end of the journey. Sometimes life simply redirects you.
During Grade 10, I was selected for the Investec Promaths programme because of my performance in Mathematics. The programme gave me the opportunity to attend extra Mathematics and Physics classes on weekends and during school holidays. The following year, I was also selected for the Engen Maths & Science School programme.
I chose the Engen programme because it offered a pathway to university through bursary funding for learners who achieved distinctions in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, or English Home Language. My distinction in English Home Language earned me the bursary, opening the door to a university journey that became a turning point in my life.
My original dream, however, was very different.
I wanted to become a pilot.
In Grade 11, I applied to several aviation schools, but most were private institutions and I was unable to secure the funding or sponsorship needed. I also applied to the South African National Defence Force, hoping to pursue aviation through that route, but I did not pass the medical examination because of my eyesight.
At the time, it felt as though the dream I had imagined for myself was ending.
But life had other plans.
I chose to study Business Information Technology at the University of Johannesburg, because I knew I wanted to create a different future for myself. As much as Cape Town and Khayelitsha were home, I also knew that I needed to step outside of what was familiar. I deliberately applied to universities outside of Cape Town, because I wanted to challenge myself, gain exposure, and experience a different environment.
I was also becoming increasingly aware of how quickly the world was moving towards technology, AI and digital transformation. I wanted to be part of that future.
At university, I began discovering where my strengths really lay. While coding was not necessarily where I felt strongest, I found that I was good at understanding business processes, communicating with people, and thinking analytically. Instead of forcing myself into a path that did not come naturally to me, I began focusing more on Business Analysis.
That decision helped me find my direction.
My university years shaped me both personally and professionally. At Horizon Ladies Residence, I developed my leadership skills, serving as Treasurer in my third year and Chairperson in my fourth. I also worked as an End User Computing tutor at the University of Johannesburg. Beyond supporting me financially, these roles helped build my confidence, strengthen my communication skills, and develop a greater sense of accountability and responsibility.
I completed my Diploma in 2023 and Advanced Diploma in 2024. Graduating was one of the proudest moments of my life, made even more meaningful by having my mother and brother there to celebrate the journey, sacrifices and challenges behind it.
For me, graduation represented far more than a qualification. It represented hope, sacrifice, resilience and the possibility of changing my family’s future.
But graduating did not mean that all the uncertainty disappeared.
One of my biggest fears was not finding a job and having to return home, feeling like I had failed. Upon completion of my Advanced Diploma, I used my tutoring savings to stay in Johannesburg, taking on any work I could find while continuing to pursue opportunities in my field. In 2024, I applied to The Academy of Accelerated Technology Education (The AATE), completed the interview process and was accepted.
Whilst I waited, I refused to get comfortable or give up. I worked at Ocean Basket during November and December and later joined Bogart from January to March 2025. These jobs may not have been part of the career I had imagined for myself, but they were an important part of my journey. They reminded me that every season has value and that sometimes you have to keep moving forward while waiting for the opportunity you have been working towards.
Then came the call that changed everything.
In March 2025, The AATE contacted me to tell me that I had been placed at Investec as a Business Analyst Learner.
I still remember that moment clearly. After everything, the uncertainty, the applications, the waiting and the determination to keep going, it finally felt as though the pieces of my journey were beginning to come together.
The first three months of the programme focused on virtual learning through Udemy, where we completed a range of modules designed to strengthen both our technical knowledge and professional skills. The learning did not stop once we entered the workplace. Throughout the learnership, Udemy remained an important part of my development, allowing me to continue learning, build my knowledge in areas relevant to my role, and develop new skills alongside the practical experience I was gaining at Investec.
In July 2025, we officially started going into the office.
That was when I truly felt my life changing. Joining Investec was exciting but also intimidating as it was my first corporate experience. I joined an operations team and was fortunate to have supportive colleagues and mentors who helped me understand the systems, processes and expectations.
During the learnership, I learned the importance of patience, humility and gained confidence to ask for help when I needed it. I realised that growth happens much faster when you are willing to learn from the people around you, rather than trying to figure everything out alone. The experience taught me something important: growth does not mean knowing everything from the beginning. It means being willing to learn.
One of my biggest moments of growth came when I started chairing the Change Assessment Forum at Investec. Communicating with hundreds of people across different teams and departments pushed me far beyond the quiet person I had once been. It made me realise just how much I had grown, not only in my career, but personally too.
Another defining moment came when I reached the point where I could complete my work independently without constant supervision. It was then that I truly started believing in myself as a Business Analyst. At the end of the learnership, I was proud to earn my ITCP (SA) Business Analyst designation through The Institute of Chartered Information Technology Professionals (ICITP), a recognition of how far I had come.
Today, I am proud to say that after completing the learnership, I transitioned into a fixed-term contract role as a Business Analyst at Investec. I see this as a major achievement and a blessing.
When I think about where I started, from sharing a single room with my mother and brother in Philippi, to studying in Johannesburg, and now building my career in corporate South Africa, I do not take any part of the journey for granted.
When I reflect on my journey, I often think about the younger version of myself. The quiet little girl who people underestimated because she did not speak much. If I could speak to her today, I would simply say: We made it out.
My journey has taught me that success does not happen overnight. It requires patience, sacrifice, consistency and self-belief. There were opportunities I missed, dreams that changed and moments when I did not know what would come next. But every stage of the journey taught me something.
My mother’s struggles motivated me to work harder, because I wanted to build a better future, not only for myself, but for my family as well.
Looking ahead, my goal is to continue growing personally and professionally. I want to advance in my Business Analysis career, I want to keep learning, develop my skills, and become someone who can inspire others from backgrounds similar to mine.
I want young people growing up in townships to know that where you start does not define where you will end. Your circumstances may shape you, but they do not have to limit or define you.
To anyone who feels hopeless or limited by where they come from, I would say: keep going. Opportunities may not come immediately and sometimes life redirects your dreams completely. But that does not mean your future is over.
Your journey may look different from what you planned. That does not make it any less meaningful.
Today, I am still growing. I am still learning. I am still becoming more than the circumstances I was born into.
I am Melissa Hlophe, a Business Analyst at Investec.