My story begins in 2011 when I was in 2nd grade. I was a huge fan of Dragon Ball Z. Every afternoon, I made sure to watch every episode on the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s channel 2 (SABC 2). What made watching the show even more exciting was the next day at school, where my friends and I would discuss the latest episodes and imitate moves like the Kamehameha. Inspired by the show, my friends and I began drawing and coloring its characters. We fell in love with the idea of creating artwork that brought us so much joy. Over time, we started designing our own characters, giving them unique names and placing them in worlds beyond our own. All thanks to shows like Dragon Ball Z, which fueled our creativity. For this, I pay my homage and respect to the late Akira Toriyama for inspiring a new generation of creators including people like me who are unafraid to tell stories they love.

By 7th grade, many of my friends had lost interest in drawing. It was often seen as a childish hobby with no real professional future. On top of that, secondary school was approaching, and most of us were going our separate ways. However, my passion for creating never faded. While I still enjoyed drawing on paper, I became fascinated by the idea of transforming my sketches into digital and even 3D art. Unfortunately, my family was struggling financially, so buying a laptop or any other tools to bring my ideas to life was out of reach. Still, my love for 3D animation grew stronger. I dreamed of making animated films, inspired by studios like Pixar and DreamWorks. I remember watching a tutorial on Blender 2.7 for the first time and the interface looked like something straight out of a spaceship! But no matter how eager I was, I lacked the equipment to transition from drawing to animation. It was frustrating, but I refused to let go of the dream.

Since I couldn’t create in the way I wanted, I became an observer, studying art from afar and keeping up with industry trends. My high school years were interesting, to say the least. From grades 8 to 12, I excelled in science, technology, mathematics, and art. I was a straight-A student, consistently ranking at the top in nearly every subject. Unfortunately, my reputation as an academic powerhouse overshadowed my artistic passions. Growing up poor, the idea of pursuing art felt unrealistic and success seemed more attainable through careers in engineering or medicine. Because of this, I rarely spoke about my creative aspirations.

However, while no one was paying attention, I was quietly honing my storytelling skills. I wrote stories on paper and typed them in Microsoft Word whenever I had access to a computer. I also taught myself graphic design, starting with PowerPoint (experimenting with design and animation) before moving on to Photoshop. I kept writing, holding onto the hope that one day, my stories would become motion pictures.

My curiosity for science and technology kept growing, and with it, my imagination. The universe my friends and I created in primary school never left me and it was like a calling, constantly appearing in my mind, waiting to be brought to life. But my limitations remained the same: a lack of skills and equipment. Despite this, I continued researching tools that could help me realize my vision. I explored programs like Houdini by SideFX, Nuke by The Foundry, and countless other 3D software solutions, including Adobe and Autodesk products. During high school, I came up with numerous creative and business ideas, including starting my own film and animation studio in 2017. I even considered launching a shoe brand and developing technology products as a means of future financial stability. But the harsh reality was that we were struggling just to afford basic necessities, let alone the tools to bring my creative ambitions to life.

At some point, I shifted my focus almost entirely to academics, temporarily pushing aside my creative aspirations. But then, something changed. After watching Avengers: Infinity War, my passion reignited. The film's breathtaking shots, impossible visual effects, and thrilling action sequences reminded me why I had fallen in love with storytelling in the first place. I started watching more Marvel films, Avatar, Star Wars, and other franchises that pushed the boundaries of imagination. These films made me realize that my dream wasn’t as far-fetched as I had once thought and it was only a matter of time before I found a way to bring my vision to life.

Yes, I love coffee. On a rainy day, nothing beats sipping a hot cup of coffee while writing sci-fi stories on my laptop. But beyond its taste, coffee also taught me a valuable life lesson. After graduating from high school with straight A’s, I planned to study engineering, secure a high-paying job, save money, and eventually fund my film studio. However, as a Zimbabwean student in South Africa, getting university funding was nearly impossible, even for an engineering degree. The year 2022 was one of my toughest. I couldn’t get into university, my filmmaking dreams felt further away than ever, and I struggled to navigate adult life. In a desperate attempt, I put my story out into the world, hoping that someone, somewhere, would hear me. And someone did! I applied to study abroad, but deep down, I didn’t think I stood a chance. The waiting period was agonizing, stretching over three long months. At times, I lost all hope.

But what about coffee? During those months, I took a job as a barista and cashier at a college cafeteria. It was a humbling experience to say the least, one I will share in greater detail someday. And then, the news arrived. I had been accepted into university. My life was about to change forever.