Hayden Matthew Naidoo grew up in Phoenix, Durban, where he has lived his whole life. He later enrolled at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to study a full-time Diploma in Accounting, a decision inspired by his strong interest in commerce subjects at school.
Today, he proudly walked the stage at the Olive Convention Centre during the Autumn graduation ceremony, where he graduated with a Diploma in Accounting, achieving Cum Laude and receiving the Dean’s Merit Award.
His journey at DUT was not easy in the beginning. He started as a shy and reserved student who struggled with confidence, especially in group work and speaking in front of others. Over time, he grew more confident through constant interaction with classmates, lectures, and academic activities. This helped him develop both personally and academically.
One of the biggest challenges he faced in his first year was financial difficulty at home. With the support of his family, he was able to secure a student loan to begin his studies. Despite these challenges, he remained focused and worked extremely hard from the start.
“One of my biggest challenges was securing registration in my first year. My family faced financial pressure at the time. With support from my parents and my family, I applied for a student loan and funded my first year. I worked hard and achieved distinctions in all my subjects. This result helped me qualify for DUT’s tuition remission programme, which supported my studies for the remaining two years of my diploma,” he explained.
His dedication showed in his academic performance. He achieved distinctions in all his subjects in his first year, which not only reflected his effort but also opened important opportunities for him, including qualifying for DUT’s tuition remission programme that supported him for the rest of his diploma.
As he progressed through his studies, he remained consistent and disciplined. In his second year, he received the Top Student Award, which encouraged him to continue striving for excellence. He also supported his classmates whenever possible, as he believed in growing and succeeding together.
All of his hard work and consistency eventually led to one of his proudest achievements, graduating Cum Laude and receiving the Dean’s Merit Award. This achievement meant a great deal to him, as it reflected years of discipline, focus, and perseverance.
He is now continuing with his Advanced Diploma full time and plans to further his studies in the future. His long-term goal is to become a Professional Accountant (SA) through SAIPA and eventually build his own accounting practice.
Pictured: Hayden Matthew Naidoo.
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile
Thubeihle Dumakude
