Keeping to a strict schedule and sticking to his academic targets he had set for himself allowed Kyle Jewan to achieve excellent academic results.

The 25-year-old from Pietermaritzburg obtained Cum Laude in his BTech in Horticulture at the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Fred Crookes Sports Centre on 08 May 2018.

“I was overwhelmed with joy at viewing my results online. Thereafter, all I felt was gratitude at being able to complete my BTech with such good results,” he said excitedly.”
After matric, Jewan had taken a gap year to figure out what he had wanted to study. Half way through his gap year, he still had no idea what he was going to study. So he asked his girlfriend for help. She narrowed down his options to three possible careers and told him to pick Horticulture because it would suit him best.
At that time she had no idea that he comes from a family of florists, so it made perfect sense to him to follow this career choice.

Jewan is currently employed as a Supervisor at the Pietermaritzburg Athletics Stadium for the Msunduzi Municipality’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Having had to juggle his work and studies proved challenging at times for him. “I had great difficulty trying to study and complete assignments because of the deadlines I had faced at work,” he said.
Through his perseverance and constant nudging from his girlfriend, he had achieved Cum Laude. “My girlfriend, Nazreena, had told me about graduating Cum Laude. She thereafter nagged me on a regular basis to ensure that I kept my results up to standard,” he said proudly.

In terms of his field of study, Jewan would like to achieve expert status in the theory and practical application of Phytoremediation which is a low cost, solar energy driven cleanup technique.
“Horticultural Production Techniques was my favourite course for the duration of my BTech. It just opened my eyes to the world of possibilities in genetics and breeding,” he said excitedly.
Currently,· Jewan is compiling a Master’s Research Proposal which he hopes will be accepted. His advice to anyone keen to study Horticulture is to not waste the opportunity.” It is a beautiful field of study with plenty of opportunity to grow as an individual. There are also major gaps in the literature available, as a student of Horticulture, you could expand on. We take for granted the opportunities we receive in life, especially those relating to advancing our careers. I am grateful for all the opportunities that I have received and I am especially Thankful to DUT’s Dr Lucy Kariuki for her guidance,” he said.

Pictured: Kyle Jewan

Waheeda Peters