Discovering Mellisa
A good ear for voices.
Seeing Mellisa Wanjiru Wragg stroll down our driveway, singing to herself, is a regular sight (and sound). When I open the door, she has a bright smile ready for me, and stops humming mid-lyric.
The pause in Mel’s impromptu show is a little disappointing because her voice is amazing. Mel could sing my tax returns to me and I wouldn’t want her to stop.
But this is what I have discovered about Mel. She doesn’t multitask. She gives every voice her full attention. Even if I’m just asking her about her day, she will tilt her head and hear every word.
Mel makes me feel like the only person in the room. When we exchange showtune recommendations, I feel like an expert. As we walk to the back of the house where I’ve set up the camera, she asks me how the blog is going. Then I realise she has let me do all the talking.
So as we sit down for our interview, I remind myself that it is my turn to listen.
Mellisa’s current project is completing her Masters in Digital Business at the University of Waikato.
The highlights of our chat:
What is something that you’ve wanted to do for a long time, but haven’t yet accomplished?
This is really random but I’ve always dreamed of being fluent in Spanish. I’m kind of in the process of doing it. I had a year of classes in 2019 which are on pause now because of my Masters. I’m determined though. It’s going to happen. I’ve had the dream of living in Buenos Aires ever since I watched Evita.
Tell me about an experience that turned out better than you thought it would?
I went back home to Kenya for Christmas and New Year’s with some of my uni mates and we had so many amazing plans fall through. We ended up spending New Years in an empty house by ourselves, with takeaways, watching Hotel Transylvania. We couldn't even see the fireworks. But it was actually the best ever, because we were together and had a lot to laugh about. We learnt a lot about each other. I also learned that you can travel a lot, be exhausted, but still have an absolute blast with your friends. I think it was because we were all united, in the same boat together.
If you knew that in one year you were going to die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are living?
I can honestly say that everything that has happened in my life, whether good or bad, has helped me grow. So I wouldn’t change anything. Moving forward though, I want to be more present.
Why?
Recently, I experienced the passing of a dear friend from cancer. She was only two years younger than my mum. I just thought, “You never know what’s coming around the corner.” You can’t spend your life getting worried. So what can I do today? How can I do it really well? How can I give people a time, and place, in my mind and heart? I want to keep that mindset going.
Mellisa’s dream in progress:
Mel continues to be the fastest Rubik’s cube solver I know, and remains my on-call, one-woman choir.
Right now however, she is turning her ear in the direction of data, and analytics. Mel doesn’t know what her dream job is but she knows it will include numbers, and problem solving.
Since being a good listener is essential for finding solutions, I’m pretty sure Mel is on the right path.
Her future, and her present, are already worth singing about.