A survivor’s story sparks mental health movement
Turning trauma into triumph
Nakashole is transforming her pain into purpose and inspiring countless others to find their voice.
For 21-year-old Sandra Nakashole, a third-year student at the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST), life has been a journey of pain as well as perseverance and powerful transformation.
After years of bullying both in person and online, Sandra has turned her trauma into a mission to raise awareness about mental health and self-esteem among young people.
“I don't have many hobbies apart from listening to music, because it makes me relax,” Nakashole said. Beneath her calm exterior, is a history marked by cruelty. She was bullied from her early school days, with much of the abuse targeted at her appearance, particularly her eyes. “People bullied me because of my eyes. They always made vile comments that I should be getting a pension because I am disabled,” she said.
The bullying intensified with the rise of social media. “Whenever I posted, people would tell me to look into the camera. They would ask if I was looking at them or somewhere else. It was traumatising and the worst part was, it was coming from adults,” she recalled.
The impact on her mental health was severe. “I developed low self-esteem and lost confidence in myself. I felt other people were prettier and better than me,” she said. “It started affecting other aspects of my life, like my relationships.”
At her lowest point, Nakashole began skipping classes, isolating herself, and breaking down emotionally. But with the help of her partner and a supportive group of friends she met at university, she began to find her footing again.
In a bold step toward reclaiming her confidence, she chose to undergo corrective eye surgery, not to satisfy others, but for herself. “I did not do it because of others, I did it because I wanted peace of mind,” she said. “I wanted to be confident and not always be that girl who everyone has to stare at because she looks different.”
Recovery
Her recovery, both physical and emotional, has been profound. “When I regained consciousness and looked at myself in the mirror, I broke down. I felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders,” she said.
She is now using her voice to support others facing similar struggles. “When I shared my story, many people reached out to me. They started asking me for help. That’s when I decided to spread awareness, especially on mental health,” she said.
Her message to those suffering in silence is clear: “Do not let other people’s opinions validate you. You are strong, you are powerful and you are beautiful. So embrace that.”
She believes that young people need more support. “They face many challenges, especially backlash from others. It is important to talk about mental health and self-esteem so they can fight back. I did not have that growing up, but I have learned how important it is,” she explained.
She credits her healing to self-reflection, forgiveness, faith and the support of her loved ones. “What helped me most was learning how to heal from the inside, forgiving people who hurt me, and embracing myself. Praying and staying true to God helped me a lot.”
To anyone facing bullying, she offers this final encouragement: “Do not be afraid to speak up. You are too strong to be silent. Make your voice heard. By speaking up, you are not only helping yourself, but others too. Help eliminate bullying.”
After years of bullying both in person and online, Sandra has turned her trauma into a mission to raise awareness about mental health and self-esteem among young people.
“I don't have many hobbies apart from listening to music, because it makes me relax,” Nakashole said. Beneath her calm exterior, is a history marked by cruelty. She was bullied from her early school days, with much of the abuse targeted at her appearance, particularly her eyes. “People bullied me because of my eyes. They always made vile comments that I should be getting a pension because I am disabled,” she said.
The bullying intensified with the rise of social media. “Whenever I posted, people would tell me to look into the camera. They would ask if I was looking at them or somewhere else. It was traumatising and the worst part was, it was coming from adults,” she recalled.
The impact on her mental health was severe. “I developed low self-esteem and lost confidence in myself. I felt other people were prettier and better than me,” she said. “It started affecting other aspects of my life, like my relationships.”
At her lowest point, Nakashole began skipping classes, isolating herself, and breaking down emotionally. But with the help of her partner and a supportive group of friends she met at university, she began to find her footing again.
In a bold step toward reclaiming her confidence, she chose to undergo corrective eye surgery, not to satisfy others, but for herself. “I did not do it because of others, I did it because I wanted peace of mind,” she said. “I wanted to be confident and not always be that girl who everyone has to stare at because she looks different.”
Recovery
Her recovery, both physical and emotional, has been profound. “When I regained consciousness and looked at myself in the mirror, I broke down. I felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders,” she said.
She is now using her voice to support others facing similar struggles. “When I shared my story, many people reached out to me. They started asking me for help. That’s when I decided to spread awareness, especially on mental health,” she said.
Her message to those suffering in silence is clear: “Do not let other people’s opinions validate you. You are strong, you are powerful and you are beautiful. So embrace that.”
She believes that young people need more support. “They face many challenges, especially backlash from others. It is important to talk about mental health and self-esteem so they can fight back. I did not have that growing up, but I have learned how important it is,” she explained.
She credits her healing to self-reflection, forgiveness, faith and the support of her loved ones. “What helped me most was learning how to heal from the inside, forgiving people who hurt me, and embracing myself. Praying and staying true to God helped me a lot.”
To anyone facing bullying, she offers this final encouragement: “Do not be afraid to speak up. You are too strong to be silent. Make your voice heard. By speaking up, you are not only helping yourself, but others too. Help eliminate bullying.”
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