“Why should I feel insecure about my past? My experiences are my testimony, and my testimony might help someone else. The negativity in my early age evolved to positivity in my later years.”
This is according to Adriaan Wagener, founder of Nexgen Training Academy, who will be releasing his first book called The Life of a Self-made Hard Worker on Saturday, 26 November at 13:00 at Agape Coffee Shop, 82 Caledon Street, Kariega.
It is a 36-page soft cover book, telling the story of a boy born in Kariega during 1992, who went through seemingly insurmountable challenges of life, including sexual abuse at an early age, but he never lost hope.
“As a child I did not understand what sexual abuse was. It was introduced to me by a man at a corner shop in Thomas Gamble as ‘love and care’ and something not to tell anyone about, otherwise I won’t have a happy family. My wish at that stage, at the age of six, was to have a happy family, so I never told anyone and continued allowing the abuse,” said Wagener.
Wagener writes about his experiences in life with his dysfunctional parents, the days spent at Liebenhause Children’s House, substance abuse, life with his foster parents, working as a domestic worker, completing his studies, his failed marriage, being a father and starting his own business.
“All your trauma and experiences in life is life teaching you to become a teacher of life. And I think my gift is to be such a teacher of life.
“Whenever I feel sad or question what happened to me, I write. Your hurt is your greatest strength and it inspired me to write this little book which is just an introduction to the story of my life. My novel, in which I will release more detail, will be released during 2023 and I am planning a documentary as well.”
About his childhood molester Wagener said, “I will never confront him, because he will not understand. The universe has its own way to deal with people like him.
“I am not a victim. Being a victim will let you stagnate. You must move forward, away from the negative it happened, deal with it, mourn it out, and build with it to become successful.
“I am at peace. I’ve dealt with my past. If I go for him (molester) now, it will be like fighting with my past and it will break me down. But I am planning a documentary and would then like to make him part of it. I want to ask him whether he went through the same in his life and if that is why he sexually abused me.
“The greatest characters and strongest persons are those allowing themselves to mourn and to feel. To forgive is to stop blaming. The weak cannot forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of strong people,” said Wagener.
Tickets to hear Wagener’s full story are R250 and include a cheese platter, wine, and a copy of his book.
- Apart from Wagener, there will be performances by a poet, singer, and Miss Teen Universe EC. For more information or to get your ticket call 063 089 4935.
