Nosipho Mthethwa is honoured to be graduating Cum Laude and with a Dean’s Merit award in her National Diploma in Biomedical Technology. She will be graduating at the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Virtual Graduation ceremony today, 10 June 2020 at 12pm.

Motivated by her background, Mthethwa went on to pursue her studies and is on her journey to change their situation back home.

“I was honoured and surprisingly thrilled when I received the news about obtaining Cum Laude and Dean’s Merit award. “I am very happy and humbled about how much my hard work has paid off. My parents were excited to receive the news about my achievement but were also sad that they could not experience and celebrate the moment with me during my actual graduation,” she replied.

For Mthethwa, medicine was her first choice but after not qualifying for it, the closest next thing to medicine she applied for was Biomedical Technology. “It was all for the love of medically helping sick and vulnerable people,” she said.

In her first year of study, Mthethwa fell pregnant and had to pull through the challenges that brought upon her life. “It was emotionally, financially and physically draining but I pulled through,” she said.

Furthermore, for Mthethwa the tough part about being a students was the anxiety during her exams. “The fun part is learning new things, being innovative and practical about things that I didn’t even know existed before I was a student,” she said.

Currently, she is doing her internship at Ampath Laboratories but is also a permanent employee. “I will study further (part-time will be offered) in BHSc in Medical Laboratory Science which is a degree and a new extension to my ND: Biomedical Technology qualification,” she said.

Pictured: Nosipho Mthethwa

Waheeda Peters