BTech Journalism student and full-time journalist at Media24 Sindisiwe Mbili graduated with a Dean’s Merit award at this year’s Autumn graduation at the Durban University of Technology (DUT).
Mbili truly embodies the phrase ‘perseverance is the mother of success’ as she only returned to DUT in 2017, to complete her BTech studies after an eight-year break. She owes all her success to her single mother, who worked as a cashier to raise her and her siblings.
“I was inspired by my mother to go back to studying because she too went back to school after a 34 year break, juggling both work and school and she did it with so much grace. I told myself that if my mom can do it, so can I,” said Mbili
Mbili aspires to be academically instrumental in the near future as she talked about both her academic and life future endeavours, mentioning that her struggle continues.
Presently, she’s studying towards her Master’s degree and working as a journalist for Media24.
“In future, I would love to venture into a career in academia because I am passionate about passing down knowledge,” concluded Mbili
Ambitious. Karinda Jagmohan (22), graduated with Cum Laude in BTech: Journalism at the Autumn graduation ceremony which took place today.
This is certainly not Jagmohan’s first time graduating with Cum Laude, as last year, 2017, she had graduated with her ND in Journalism with Cum Laude as well as she received the Dean’s Merit for academic excellence.
“I dedicated my entire four years at DUT to studying and working and during my BTech year, I started freelancing for the Sunday Tribune newspaper. This year I was employed permanently as a Content Producer and journalist for the Sunday Tribune, where I get to work with journalists who were my inspiration while I was at DUT,” explained Jagmohan She also mentioned that when she had arrived at City Campus she knew immediately that was where she belonged.
“Our department has the best learning family, and our lecturers take a personal interest in our development, which I always appreciated. Journalists also play a major role in the development and justice system, and because of this we have a great responsibility to do our job ethically,” added Jagmohan. Jagmohan definitely has her eyes on the bigger prize as she plans to enrol for her Masters degree while working full time at the Sunday Tribune newspaper. She further concluded that as she grows in experience, she hopes to delve further into investigative journalism, and one day she can take up a leadership role at a major media house.
Another inspiration is mother, wife, journalism graduate and reporter at Independent Media, Khumbuzile Mbuqe, who graduated with her BTech in Journalism with Cum Laude.
“The accolade was a pleasant surprise. I guess since registering for my National Diploma in Journalism, I’ve felt the pressure to do my utmost best. I had self-imposed pressure, I wanted to please my parents, to make my husband proud and I guess to show my kids and others (my age) that one is never too old for education,” explained Mbuqe
Hard work does eventually pay off, as Mbuqe had to multitask more than most in order to create a balance between her studies as well as fulfiling her wife and motherly duties. She constantly had to defy a lot of expectations to be where she is today.
Even during the trying times when her son was hospitalized for almost four months, Mbuqe managed to juggle between wife and mother duties as well as her studies and strived with grace.
Mbuqe wishes to do her Masters degree and then study abroad and one day come back to lecture at DUT.
Pictured: DUT Journalism graduates, Sindisiwe Mbili, Karinda Jagmohan and Khumbuzile Mbuqe.
Mfundo Mthembu
