Wow, the last few months have been such a learning journey, and I don't just mean memorising my lines for my new show. I play Grace in DiCHiPi by JiK’iZiNTO, and from the moment I read the script, I was like, ‘Wow, I relate to this character so much!’ But then, there are parts of Grace that I was like… 'No way!' She’s engineering smart, and that’s intimidating. Don’t get me wrong—I’m emotionally intelligent—but when it comes to equations and engineering, it’s a whole different level.

But that’s what makes it so rewarding - getting into the parts of a character that I can understand, and then the parts that make me see the different worlds we all live in, right?

Grace is a bit conservative. She’s a shy engineering student under loads of pressure (that she kinda-sorta puts on herself too tbh) to live up to her family's expectations … especially after her sister fell pregnant in high school. Now her father has his eyes on Grace to excel! She is analytical and quiet; and wants to assert herself while making her parents proud. Can you even understand the worries on this hun’s shoulder?

Me? I’m all about going with the flow. Artsy and free-spirited (Okay, with some anxiety, I’ll admit).

I think there’s lots to learn from Grace, so I want to loop you in and put you on.

Tapping into Grace’s hidden strength, especially through her ‘double life’ life as an MMA fighter, was such a thrill for me as an actor. She’s so calm and composed on the surface, but she’s not weak or a pushover. That contradiction was so powerful to me. Imagine how tiring it can be, trying to be the “good girl” while secretly doing something as wild and freeing as MMA fighting. It’s her release, her way of expressing everything she can’t say in words.

She learns empathy pretty fast. Her story makes her more open to her friends’ struggles, and learning to see things from their perspective—and honestly, who doesn’t need that skill? Getting into Grace’s character made me look back at moments from my life from a different angle - I've got a new perspective on how things can be handled, or how they look from the point of view of someone who isn't in my shoes. She’s a feisty diva with so many layers.

Grace’s anxiety is something I deeply connected with. I mean, Lorcia is constantly telling her to calm down, just like my friend Lesego (and phenomenal costar who plays Lorcia) always tells me to relax! Playing Grace taught me something we all need to remember: Breathe, honey. Stop obsessing over things that aren’t in your control. Her journey is about learning to assert herself and to live on her own terms, and that’s something I resonate with. Grace had to figure out that she could still pursue her dreams, but in a way that felt right to her—not based on anyone else’s expectations.

How often are we all caught up in what others might say or think? Being yourself in a world that has a set plan about who they expect you to be takes real guts.

Grace also showed me that you don’t have to have everything figured out to be strong. If I could go back in time, I’d tell my younger self, ‘You can’t control other people’s actions, but you can control how you react.’ You can’t sweat everyone’s vibe! The people meant for you will choose you, flaws and all. The people who love you for you will always stick around. The ones who love you, and who are drawn to your energy will find you, no matter what.

What surprises me most about Grace is how much strength she finds within herself. Even with all the twists and turns in her story, you’d think she’d be a pushover. Ha! Not at all. And that’s how life is sometimes—the people we least expect, including ourselves, come through fighting. We often don’t know our strength until we are in a situation that needs us to be strong, and that’s where the power lies.

Lately, there’s this one exercise that I do every day before bed that has really worked for me: thinking of three things I am grateful for. It helps put things in perspective, and honestly, it’s a game-changer. It makes me appreciate the things I have. It’s made a major difference for my emotions, and especially my mental well-being when I feel like life’s a bit too much. Then, I take notes of the things I want to work on too and make the time to work on it while also being kind to myself.

Want to share your own story with us? Email your JiK’iJournal to jikizinto@girleffect.org