Newly graduated Ameera Khalek acknowledged dedication as her recipe for success as she graduated Cum Laude with the Dean’s Merit award in Nuclear Medicine at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony, held at the Olive Convention Centre on 22 May 2024.

Reflecting on her journey at DUT, Khalek recalls the excitement of joining the institution and all the good and bad memories she had created during the period of four years.

“The duration of my four year degree consisted of happy memories, new friends, but also consisted of a lot of tears and hard work. Towards the end of my fourth year, I felt defeated because I had convinced myself I would not be getting the Cum Laude award. However, when I had checked my portal I was in shock and disbelief,” she said.

Amongst the challenges  she had encountered was the transition from contact learning to remote learning due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The 22-year-old initially wanted to study Sonography but it was not offered by DUT in that year of her applying, and she was very much undecisive about her career path.

“I got accepted to study BCom Accounting at another university but I was unsure of the career I wanted to pursue. Being away from home scared me and I chose to stay with my family and study through DUT,” she explained.

Her advice she can impart to  first year students is to not expect the treatment they had received in high school, as university life is different. “It requires constant hard work and dedication to one’s work,” she said.
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Pictured: Ameera Khalek at the DUT 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony.

Thubelihle Dumakude