It has been a bumpy academic journey for the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Thandeka Dlamini but at the end she reaped the rewards of her hard work. Dlamini achieved Cum Laude for her Bachelor’s degree in Education: Economics and Management Sciences and she graduated this morning (Monday, 15 May 2023) at the Indumiso Campus Hall.

The 27-year-old from Escort in KwaZulu Natal explained that she was excited upon receiving the news that she had achieved Cum Laude for her bachelor’s degree. She further said that becoming a teacher had always been her dream so achieving Cum Laude was like a cherry on top.

According to Dlamini, she did not receive this achievement on a silver platter but gained it through hard work and dedication.

“The COVID-19 pandemic challenged me immensely. Adapting to the ‘new normal’ was hard for me and it added stress on me and on my academics. I experienced network problems while studying from home, that made it hard for me to reach out to my group mates as well as lectures,” explained Dlamini.

She is currently employed as an Education Assistant and searching for a job. She gave credit to herself for pushing through many challenges and persevering till the end. Moreover, Dlamini is grateful to her family and her lectures for supporting her since the beginning of her academic journey.

She believes that dedication brought her this far and she describes herself as a family oriented individual who always prioritize her family.

“This achievement is dedicated to my family, specifically her parents  and my child. My parents had worked very hard raising me, teaching and raising me up and grooming me for future. I am who I am today because of them, I got these wonderful results because of them,” said Dlamini.

Dlamini advised students to stick to their dreams, forget about friends as the university is not the place to make friends, it is the place to study get good results. She pleaded with them to remember where they come from, the situation they left at home that is waiting for them to change.

Pictured: Thandeka Dlamini

Nikiwe Sukazi