Hard work definitely pays off in the end and it is up to you to achieve your goals.

This is the sound advice from Bianca Van Rooyen who graduated Cum Laude earning herself a National Diploma in Fashion Design yesterday (Monday 16 April).

“I am very excited and surprised about my Cum Laude achievement as I had no idea that I was receiving it until I received my name card at the graduation ceremony. I knew my marks for my subjects but never realised that I had received Cum Laude. I am very proud of myself as I worked very hard and in the end it paid off,” said Van Rooyen.

She said achieving Cum Laude was hard because she had t dedicate a lot of her time to her studies. However, the fact that Fashion Design has always been her passion made up for that.

“I chose Fashion Design because it is the only course I have ever wanted to study. There was simply no other career I wanted to follow. I enjoyed all the work involved. Throughout my three years of studying I received 16 distinctions. My parents are very proud of me but without their support, I would not have achieved what I did,” she said.

The Van Rooyen family will celebrate Bianca’s academic success with a “small celebration with some family and friends”. The 21 year old from Kloof finished her matric at Kloof High School and has lived in Durban her whole life.

While she says she had a few challenges at DUT, her lecturers were always helpful and made her my studies at the university “very enjoyable”.

“The biggest challenge for me was the difference from high school to university. It was a big step as a lot more was expected from and the work load was heavier but it was a valuable learning experience”, she said.

Van Rooyen is a currently pursuing her Btech in Fashion at DUT and is also a part time lecturer at DUT while she complete her studies.

“My future plans are to get a job that allows me to travel South Africa and the world. I would love a job that allowed me to work with a designer so that I can learn and gain experience about how a South African designer can successfully have their own clothing line,” she said.

–Sinegugu Ndlovu