The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Business Administration student, Ziphezinhle Lineo Khonyane (32) from Pietermaritzburg, Prestbury graduates Cum Laude and obtained a Deans Merit Award this evening (Tuesday), 16 May 2023 at Indumiso hall.
Her journey at DUT began in 2020 when she enrolled for a Diploma in Business Administrations at Riverside campus. Her journey was not easy at all, she had to balance her schoolwork as well as her personal life but with the determination and strong will she was able to navigate and withstand the pressure and graduated Cum Laude and the Deans Merit Award.
Khonyane is super proud of her achievement as she did not think she was going to be able to make it since she went back to pursue her studies and adjust to university life at the age of 29. From the first day at DUT, she set her mind on achieving good grades but she was so shocked and elated to learn that she obtained a Deans Merit Award. She also believes these are the fruits of her plant, her hard work finally pays off.
According to Khonyane, there was a time when she was skeptical about her academic journey but with courage and God’s grace, she stood still and obtained a Deans Merit Award. She believes that she had to get good grades because she comes from a family of hard workers and high academic achievers, so she had to make sure that she does not let them down. She thanked God for the favours and everyone who contributed to her outstanding journey.
Khonyane gave a brief insight behind choosing Business Administration as her course of study.
“My entrepreneurial mindset drove me into enrolling in Business Administrations. I wanted to learn the ins and outs of owning and heading businesses and this qualification gave me an all-round perspective on how to be a good leader and attaining skills of managing the business,” she said.
Speaking about the challenges that she encountered in her academic journey she said, “I faced so many challenges in my life but 2020 was a deal breaker, I fell pregnant, I did not know how to go through that situation. I had so many questions pertaining to my academic journey, taking care of a child and balancing my personal life. If that was not stressful enough, the COVID-19 wave came in guns blazing, resulting in having to adapt to online learning. Another challenge that I encountered the most is that people often judged me about my age, but I can say that their judgement motivated me to prove that old students still have it and age is nothing but a number.”
One can say the COVID-19 era brought misery in our lives but Khonyane believes that it was a blessing in disguise because she was able to take care of her new-born baby while studying. Multi-tasking was not easy at all but she received her encouragement from her family and very close friends to keep pushing forward.
She believes that being a mother while studying is difficult, but these little humans are all motivations that we need in order to excel in everything that we do.
Khonyane plans to study further and hopefully reach her PhD level. She is currently doing her Advanced Diploma in Business Administration. She also wants to grow in the business industry as she owns a business of selling traditional food until she opens her food enterprise.
Pictured: Ziphezinhle Lineo Khonyane
Photograph: Khulasande Tshayile
Nomvelo Zulu.
