This was the overwhelming message that Alison, a celebrated author and motivational speaker, delivered to secretaries of University of Johannesburg at a secretary’s day luncheon held at the Johannesburg Country Club on Wednesday, 01 September 2010.

Secretaries sat in rapt attention as Alison spoke of the brutally cruel torture to which she was subjected and how she overcame the challenges of that experience, by applying her own ABC - Attitude, Belief and Choice. She highlighted the importance of attitude at all times, to gain insight into the power of belief in oneself and emphased the impact  that freedom and responsibility have on making choices, no matter what happens in one's life.

Alison recounted in riveting detail the story of her nightmare journey with the two callous killers who raped her, stabbed her so many times that doctors could not count the wounds, slit her throat and left her for dead in a filthy clearing miles from the city of Port Elizabeth which was her home. Refusing to become a victim, Alison’s will to live and her miraculous recovery, both physically and mentally, was an inspiration to the secretaries.

Professor Ihron Rensburg, UJ’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, echoed Alison’s message and praised secretaries for the work they are doing. “We have come a long way. Today, the University is walking tall – this in spite of all the criticism the Institution has encountered in the past. Without you (secretaries) it would not have been possible to reach the heights UJ did,” said Prof Rensburg.

“Not everyone has the natural talent to inspire others by using their own from bad experiences, but Alison's message taught me how valuable life is, and that the solutions to the challenges we face, lie within ourselves.” - Liesl Scheepers, Coordinator of Marketing Graduate Programme.

“Alison weaves the three strands of her life's philosophy - Attitude, Belief and Choice - into an unbreakable lifeline of strength for all to hold onto, as a life skill never to be forgotten. I was inspired by this – I’m definitely going to adapt her life’s philosophy.” - Estelle Hayward, Secretary to Operatinal Director, Academic Development and Support

Alison, motivational speaker at the recent UJ secretaries day 2010