Riona Bramdeo obtained Cum Laude in her Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical Engineering. She graduated this morning (Monday, 6 May 2019) at the Fred Crookes Sports Centre, Steve Biko Campus.
Going to University straight from school was quite a daunting experience for her, however right from the induction, there was so much put in place to help her get settled into University life. It was like being part of a bigger community where everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand. She believes that the Durban University of Technology (DUT) has been so dedicated to ensuring that it remains a student – centred University.
The 24 – year – old Bramdeo believes that it is important to better oneself and sharpen one’s skills. In today’s job market she adds that it’s always good to have a competitive edge. After completing her National Diploma, she felt that there was so much that she still wanted to conquer and be better equipped in the industry, so she enrolled for her BTech.
“It’s often difficult to manage your time effectively when you have deadlines for designs, projects, assignments and you need to learn for tests all at once. The demands of campus academic life at times was very overwhelming. It is a lot to juggle and made me feel like a walking zombie at times,” she said.
Obtaining her Cum Laude was a surreal feeling for her. “I have never been the most consistent student prior to starting the Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering. But something just clicked in me where I wanted to push myself and try to accomplish something that would challenge me, and could only be obtained through hard work. It is really a terrific feeling to have this to validate the hard work and sleepless nights that I put in,” she said.
Her parents always did their best to provide a stable foundation for her in different ways. Seeing how hard her parents worked on a daily basis was her biggest motivator to become someone they can be proud of.
Bramdeo encouraged other DUT students to keep working hard. “It’s normal to sometimes feel demotivated or discouraged when you feel like you have been putting in hard work and it is not reflecting in your results. Don’t be afraid to be ambitious about your goals, that motivation will always give you the fuel you need to tackle any challenge,” she said.
Pictured: hard work earns Bramdeo Riona Cum Laude in Chemical Engineering.
Nomkhuleko Thutshini
