Reloaded Mag Africa Volume 18 | Page 19

1. Tell us more about yourself, who is Dolly Zulu?

Dolly is just a woman who grew up in a small area called Nhlazatshe, raised up by the late Mrs Zulu N.E and Mr Zulu T. She just grew up having dreams.

2. How was your childhood like and what was your childhood dream?

My childhood was just a normal one, you know in small villages life is not as fancy. there's really nothing much there "laughs"but i had a dream, when i was at primary school, i dreamt of being a teacher but my motives were not valid enough, i guess i was still young to understand about dreams and future plans "laughs"

3. Your late mother was a teacher, what would you say you learn from her?

Oh my God, I must just say she is still my role model. my mom was very strict but i learnt a lot from her, i learnt to be strong, i learnt a lot about family values, about love, the importance of education, o really must say she was a perfectionist. i really didn't understand most of the things about her. i thought our lives was very different from other kids, little did i know that she was preparing me for the best, she was grooming me to be the woman that i am today, she was preparing me to toughen up for this crazy world. i am really proud of her, something i wish, if only she could just come back and see the woman I've grown out to be. she was the best parent i could ever ask for.

4. How did you ensure that the environment you grew up in doesn't stop you from going for your dreams?

As i said that my mom was very strict but i guess its not that alone, my home background was not something i wanted for all my life. i was so desperate in changing it, so no matter what happened, i wanted to please my parents, i so wanted to change my background and i was so determined.

5. How and when did the love of being an optometrist come about?

I started having an interest of being an Optometrist when i was in high school, grade 10 or so, i actually didn't even know exactly what was that all about, but i still remember very well, that i had a problem with my vision and it was school holidays when my mom decided to take me to an Opto (and that Opto is still alive even today), when we got there, everything in that surgery was just something else, everything looked professional, the environment there, the theater was just perfect. that Optometrist stole my mind and my dream changed right there and i said one day i wanna be an Optometrist, i wanna help people and i want to change my background.

I started having an interest of being an Optometrist when i was in high school, grade 10 or so, i actually didn't even know exactly what was that all about, but i still remember very well, that i had a problem with my vision and it was school holidays when my mom decided to take me to an Opto (and that Opto is still alive even today), when we got there, everything in that surgery was just something else, everything looked professional, the environment there, the theater was just perfect. that Optometrist stole my mind and my dream changed right there and i said one day i wanna be an Optometrist, i wanna help people and i want to change my background.

6. What would you say is the most challenging thing about your job?

The most challenging thing is that people still need awareness, actually i wish people can take it upon themselves that is it always wise to visit your optometrist just for general check up, other than visiting when there's already a problem, some conditions are irreversible and it is always sad when you have to disclose to a patient that "nothing can be done now, we cant restore your vision" The biggest challenge is that some conditions are painless and presents no symptoms and signs and the other challenge is that we also have slow months "just like any other business" and busy months as well but other than that, i am loving what i do. there's no better feeling than having your patient say "Thanks Dr, i thought i will never see again"

7. You are now an overall business woman, how do you juggle between your day to day job and the business side?

Eish, things are really hectic now, yes very hectic. As I've started another business on the side "lol". True that a wise woman cant survive with only one source of of income. i now have 2 business: i am doing Optometrist full time and forever business owner part time. My schedule is very tight as i also work on Saturdays except Sunday( and again around church, im the head in the task team) There's always a lot to handle but one Saturday in a month, i rest and go out to have fun.

8. whats your typical day like/, you are a mother as well, how do you balance all of it?

Yes, my day starts at half 4 daily, i have to prepare for my beautiful daughter and make sure everything is started for her by 6. after that i have to prepare for the office, we open at 8 but consultation starts at 9 to 5. from 5, sometimes i have meetings with my forever team or sometimes one on one presentation, around evening i do my homework with my daughter, i make sure i am always part of her homework, it feels good and i enjoy doing that with her, you check the time and its already 8 and she has to sleep and i sleep as well. that's my daily routine.