Lesta Lekgau is the Student Wellbeing Coordinator at Sparrow FET College and has been working here for a year. She works with college-aged students, helping those who struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship problems, and other grownup issues. She is there to guide students through personal challenges, help ease emotional burdens, and empower them to achieve healthier minds. Lesta is an orphan and grew up in the rural areas in Limpopo in a small village called Uitzight. She was raised by her grandmother’s sister and was the only girl, living among 7 boys. After matric, Lesta went on to study Occupational Therapy Assistant at the Tshwane University of Technology and then got a degree in Psychology from the University of Johannesburg. From there she went on to get her BSC honours in Psychology at Sefako Makgatho University. One of the women who inspired Lesta and had an influence on her journey, was Mfariseni Mukhuba, a Pastor and Clinical Psychologist. Mukhuba holds a special place in Lesta’s heart as she showered her with kindness while she came to difficult crossroads in her life. She taught her how to persist in her life and not to resist change because things in life are always changing. Lesta has worked incredibly hard to get to where she is and the thing she loves the most about her job is that she is a witness to our student’s growth. She sees students at their most desperate and lowest times in their lives, where they have feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, but over time through the work she does with them, together they rise from this place. Her journey has been a fulfilling one and she looks forward to continuing on this journey and walking alongside youth who require support, encouragement, and empowerment in their lives. Lesta’s advice to any young woman looking to follow in her path is; “Never reject ideas just because you will not agree with them. Stand out to be heard. Never fight to be a man, you are good just being you.”
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November
