Student, Kind-hearted Teenager, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa

Ms. Hanli Theron is a wonderfully thoughtful individual. From the short time I’ve known her, Ms. Theron has shown compassion, patience and care toward her friends. Hanli’s ability to recognize, admit to and learn from past mistakes is more developed than some of the older humans I know. I truly enjoyed reading Hanli’s answers, entire time wishing I was this eloquent and intelligent when I was her age.

Teenagers fascinate me. In fact, I believe that we should open our ears and listen to teens, because they produce unfiltered, raw and honest answers, making us question our own values and ideals. It’s too bad teens get a bad rap and are constantly underestimated.

- Olga Shmaidenko, Founder of WOW Woman.

1. Name

Hanli Theron.

2. Where is your hometown?

I’ve lived in Bellville, Cape Town my entire life.

3. Describe your perfect day? Where would you go and what would you do?

My perfect day consists of waking up at 7 AM in Swellendam while it’s raining. I’d eat breakfast on the porch and read a little. Then I’d probably go for a walk in the woods until lunchtime when I’d meet up with some friends. I’d like to do something creative like painting or writing and end my day with a night out with friends and meeting new people.

4. What are your favourite subjects in school?

I’m privileged enough to love all my subjects and do well in them. My favourites would have to be Drama, History, English, and Art.

5. Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of. Was there a moment that changed the course of your life in some sort of way?

I think the achievement I’m most proud of would be deciding to get better and let go of what was unhealthy for me. In the middle of 2021, I decided to leave my then-high school after getting involved with some not-so-nice people and moved to another school in the city. After some rocky episodes with my mental health, I finally decided that I didn’t want to be my own enemy anymore and made a conscious decision to love myself and be my own hero instead of waiting for someone or something to make things better. Since then my grades have gone up, I’ve made wonderful friends and I’m not as scared to wake up in the mornings. Loving yourself will always be an uphill battle, but making the decision to start was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do. It’s also the best decision I’ve ever made.

6. How is your life different now from what you pictured at 14?

Very different. For starters, I pictured being out of school and in university by now. I also pictured my life with certain people at 14 who are strangers to me now. I sometimes wonder whether 14-year-old me would be proud of who I am today and I think she’d be proud of who I’m becoming, but morally I’ve changed so much and adopted a much different mindset I honestly think she’d be a little shocked at how much she’s changed.

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

Yes, a couple of times. The most recent being when I became incredibly sick due to stress after my long-term boyfriend broke up with me. I loved him very deeply and the breakup was extremely sudden. The stress caused so much strain on my body that I spent the majority of my first term at home or in the hospital. I was so behind with all my schoolwork I thought I’d never be able to catch up, but I put in the work and ended my term with a 90% average.

8. Advice for other teen girls?

1. Don’t date in high school. It’s so much extra and unnecessary stress that you just don’t need. Focus on yourself and your friends and don’t allow yourself to be tied down, especially not by someone who may not have your best interests at heart.

2. Grab every opportunity that presents itself and live your teenage life like a teenager.

3. Don’t try to grow up too fast: enjoy being a kid by making mistakes, dressing how you want, and finding yourself and your people.

9. Knowing the political and social climate in South Africa, can girls grow up and be "all that we can be"? Are you hopeful?

I am hopeful, but I don’t know for sure. It’s hard to be a woman in South Africa. As long as little girls never stop standing up for what they believe in and knowing their worth, I think the future can actually be quite nice.

10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

With my friends. I feel my best when I’m surrounded by people whom I love and who love me in return. I don’t care where it is, as long as I’m with them.

11.   What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

All my Drama and Theatre activities. Being a theatre kid has taught me so much about myself and has given me opportunities I never thought possible: like writing my own play or being able to portray such a wide variety of characters.

12. What are some things schools and parents can do better, to understand teens?

I want them to remember that times have changed. The struggles that they have gone through are different from ours.

Just because you’ve dealt with something a certain way during your teenage years and it therefore doesn’t seem like such a big deal, does not necessarily make it any simpler or less significant. We are all different and just because you don’t understand something or perceive it as nonsensical, doesn’t mean it’s not worth concern or attention. So, listen to what teens are saying and validate our feelings even if it seems small to you because they might just be the biggest thing to us.

13. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

I’m planning on studying law, but I don’t know if law is what I’d like to pursue as a career. All I know at this point in time is that I want to do my part to make the world a bit of a better place.

14. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

The fear of being alone. I’m single for the first time in over three years and it’s terrifying. It also goes hand-in-hand with the whole “loving yourself” thing. I hope to one day be content with my own company and not wonder and obsess about who I’ll love next.

16. What/who inspires you?

Gerard Way. He is the best example of someone who picked himself up by deciding to choose to be better.

17.   What are some "ingredients" to a good life? How did the global pandemic change your perspective about the world, your life, your goals, and your dreams?

Live in the present. As soon as you begin obsessing about what happened in the past or what’s to come you’re no longer living: you’re remembering and dreaming.

The pandemic definitely changed me in a 180-degree sense. Since I spent most of the pandemic online, I got to know people on a global scale. In all honesty – I’m a lot more scared of the world than I used to be, but that also made me want to be a part of it so much more. I want to be part of the solution, not the problem.

18. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why? What are your superpowers?

• Resilience. I think I’m a very strong person and I’m incredibly proud of myself for being able to overcome and accomplish so much.

• Empathy. I care deeply about people, whether I know them personally or from a distance.

• Creativity. I can express myself through different art forms to which other may relate. There is nothing more fulfilling than being able to make a person feel something with something you made.

20. What are you reading now?

I’m not currently reading anything except my textbooks and studying.

21. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, about why you admire them?

Tiana van den Berg is one of the strongest people I know. My mother, Corien Theron, has always been her unapologetic self, and Elmie van Wyngaardt who has always known her worth and refuses to fold for anyone.

22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

I only have an Instagram @what.ever.happened.to.hanli

Bonus Quick Round Qs:

1. What and who is worth suffering for? Love.

2. What would you do if you knew that nobody would judge you? Say exactly how I feel all the time.

3. Who is/are your mentor/s (these could be men or women in your life)? My parents and Elmie’s mom, Dedre van Wyngaard.

4. If you didn't have to work anymore what would you do with your days? Assuming money wasn’t an issue either, I’d explore the world and try everything on my bucket list.

5. If you could be anyone for a day who would you be? Beyoncé. I just want to know what it would be like to be someone so iconic. I mean it’s Beyoncé.

6. If you could relive one year in your life, which one would it be? 2015

7. What bothers you most about people? What do you love most about people? I hate the selfish nature of people, but I love when people can be selfless.