Diary Entry 1 :Built by Discipline: How Learning, Fitness, and Courage Shaped My Path From the classroom to the stage — a journey of resilience, confidence, and lifelong learning.

Hey Skinnies, let me formally introduce myself!

I go by the name SHADRE LEONARD. I hail from the Eastern Cape — born in Graaf-Reinet, bred in Uitenhage (also known as The Hage), better known to you all today as Kariega.

AKA — I am The Skinny Makoti.

Let’s just say the journey has begun!

I’ve always believed that learning doesn’t have a finish line. It’s a lifestyle. A mindset. A quiet rebellion against stagnation.

My journey hasn’t been linear, and it definitely hasn’t been easy — but it has always been intentional.

I come from a background where you learn early that you have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. Being “skinny” — physically, financially, or professionally — can make people underestimate your strength. But what they don’t see is the muscle built through discipline, curiosity, and consistency.

That’s the kind of strength education gave me.

Building a Foundation, One Qualification at a Time

My academic journey started with a National Senior Certificate in Engineering Studies from East Cape Midland College. That was my first lesson in structure, systems, and understanding how things fit together — a theme that would follow me throughout my career.

In 2010, I completed SAMTRAC (Safety Management Training Course) through NOSA, one of South Africa’s most respected institutions in occupational health and safety. That qualification didn’t just teach me compliance — it taught me responsibility.

Safety is about people.It’s about foresight, accountability, and leadership under pressure.

Later, while working full-time and navigating real adult responsibilities, I earned my Bachelor of Commerce in Management from UNISA in 2018.

Studying through UNISA taught me independence, time management, and resilience. When no one is checking if you’re logged in or attending class, discipline becomes your greatest qualification.

Most recently, in 2023, I completed Facility Management at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Studying at UCT was more than just an academic milestone — it was a personal affirmation. It reminded me that growth doesn’t expire, and ambition doesn’t belong only to the young.

Facilities management brought together everything I had learned over the years: operations, safety, logistics, people, and strategy.

Each institution shaped me differently:

• NOSA sharpened my risk awareness.

• UNISA strengthened my self-management.

• UCT refined my strategic thinking.

Together, they formed a toolkit I now carry into every role I step into.

The Confidence Built Beyond the Classroom

Education shaped my mind — but fitness and performing shaped my confidence.

Growing up, I trained and performed in professional dance. The stage became a place where I learned discipline, presence, and self-belief. Dance demanded commitment, practice, and the courage to perform in front of an audience lessons that later translated directly into my professional life.

I also entered local pageants, which helped me grow tremendously as a person.

Pageants are often misunderstood, but they teach poise, resilience, and how to carry yourself with confidence under pressure. Walking onto a stage, answering questions, and presenting yourself to judges and an audience pushes you far outside your comfort zone.

Those experiences helped me conquer fears and believe in my ability to take on the world.

Fitness has also played a powerful role in my life. Staying physically active gave me mental clarity, focus, and energy that carried into every area of my life — from late-night study sessions to navigating professional challenges.

And honestly, years of fitness probably released enough endorphins to shape my personality too… joke haha!

But there is truth in it.

Movement, discipline, and caring for your health can transform how you think, how you work, and how you face life.

The Dream That Covid Paused — Not Ended

Before the world shut down, I had a plan.

I wanted to teach in Busan, South Korea.

Not just to work overseas, but to grow — culturally, professionally, and personally. I was ready for that chapter.

Then Covid happened.

Borders closed.Finances tightened.Plans stalled.

Losing my job during that time could have broken my momentum. Instead, it forced reflection. It reminded me that while circumstances can delay dreams, they don’t erase them  unless you let them.

So I kept going.

I didn’t stop learning.I didn’t stop preparing.I didn’t stop evolving.

Education as a Fitness Plan for the Future

People talk about keeping fit physically  and yes, that matters.

But staying mentally and professionally fit is just as important.

Education is how I keep myself ready for future opportunities I can’t even see yet.

I believe in lifelong learning because the world doesn’t stand still. Industries change. Technology shifts. Roles evolve.

And I refuse to become outdated.

Whether it’s safety management, facilities, logistics, administration, or leadership  I stay curious. I stay adaptable.

Being “skinny” doesn’t mean being weak.

It means being agile.

It means fitting into spaces others can’t.

It means moving fast when opportunity knocks.

Still Becoming

I am not done.

Not with education.Not with growth.Not with dreaming bigger than my current circumstances.

My journey proves that you can lose a job and still keep your purpose. That you can be delayed without being defeated. That learning is not something you finish it’s something you live.

To anyone reading this who feels stuck, underestimated, or paused by life:

Keep studying.Keep evolving.Keep showing up for yourself.

The future belongs to the prepared  and I plan to stay ready.

Always.