Asiphe Mlambo’s ability to step out of her comfort zone resulted in her being recognised by the Faculty of Applied Sciences as one of the top achievers.

The 24-year-old graduated Cum Laude for her Diploma in Nautical Studies at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony, held at the Olive Convention Centre on Tuesday, 21 May 2024.

She referred to her journey at DUT as been like riding a roller coaster, entailing lots of excitement, ups and downs, and some unexpected turns.

“Being a DUT student forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and taught me discipline and determination because this course required all of my focus and devotion to succeed. As a result, I gained a lot of self-awareness,” she said.

In her second year of studying , Mlambo had to switch from online learning to contact classes, which was a challenging transformation for an introvert like her. She explained how she had to encourage herself to interact with others in groups tasks and learn how to share her knowledge and gain knowledge from others while building mutually beneficial relationships.

She believed that graduating Cum Laude demonstrated her dedication and perseverance in her academic pursuits.

“Cum Laude is the outcome of every effort I made to succeed in my studies. It’s essentially a reward for my dedication and perseverance,” she happily shared.

Giving a brief insight on her course, the Lusikisi born graduate described the maritime industry as a dynamic one where new things are learnt every day and having a lot of memorable experiences. She concluded by urging all students who may be following her journey to attend lectures on a regular basis. Additionally, she added that they should try out several study methods to see which ones suit them the most. Along with learning how to properly manage their time, she relayed that students should also be able to balance their social lives and academic responsibilities.

Pictured: Asiphe Mlambo.

Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese.

Thubelihle Dumakude