Tshepo Raboshakga, a determined lass from a small village called Indermark Village in Limpopo had finally made her dream of studying chemistry come true. She graduated with her Diploma in Analytical Chemistry at the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) 2024 Spring Graduation ceremony which was held at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Thursday, 19 September 2024.

Raboshakga’s curiosity about the world around her ignited a love for chemistry that had led her to achieve her dream career. It had always been her dream to unlock the secrets of materials and substances, as chemistry aims to examine materials both qualitatively and quantitatively.

She enrolled for her Diploma in Analytical Chemistry at DUT in 2021. Despite facing a language barrier and transition from Limpopo to KwaZulu-Natal, this threatened to hinder her progress, however, she persevered and her hard work paid off.

Raboshakga stands tall as a Cum Laude graduate and top achiever in her faculty, a shining example of what can be achieved through unwavering commitment and a willingness to learn.

“There have been moments in my academic journey when I felt like I would never be able to overcome the long and difficult path ahead of me, but I was able to do so by working hard, being committed, and receiving the love and support from my family,” she explained.

Raboshakga further expressed that the motive of studying chemistry was a combination of both love and curiosity. “Since high school, I have always loved chemistry and was curious about the materials that make up the things we see around us,” she added.

She further explained that graduating Cum Laude is something to be proud of as it reflects dedication and perseverance as she had shown in her studies.

She looks forward to keep growing and discovering more in the field of chemistry, with the goal of working in research and development, and to continue with her studies in 2025.

Pictured: Tshepo Raboshakga

Sinamile Sithole