By graduating with cum laude from the Durban University of Technology, Emona resident, Siyabonga Dube, has made his mother proud by breaking the cycle and becoming the first in his family to graduate from a higher education institution.
Sounds of ululation and clan praises could be heard from the Tongaat household all the way down the street as the Dube family rejoiced after hearing that not only did their son achieve a cum laude but that he was also honoured with the Dean’s Merit Award for his Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering at DUT’s Virtual Autumn Graduation 2021 on Thursday, 27 May. “It was quite a shock and a surprise for my mother and the rest of my family, who didn’t even know what it means to graduate cum laude. They were so proud of me and screaming with joy, I was so happy and it was a great feeling.” The 20-year-old who will be having a joint 21st and graduation party in August, after his birthday, said since registering at DUT, he was always aiming for the stars and to be counted among the best students in his class.“Since first year, my goal was to pass with a cum laude. So, when I found that I had obtained my goal, I was ecstatic because I knew that all my hard work paid off. It was the Dean’s Merit Award that I was not expecting, when I first saw that I also had the Dean’s Merit, I was truly surprised. I am very competitive, and I cannot take defeat very well, which is good for me because I always give it my best in everything that I do, so I can triumph.”
Dube said achieving academic success was not an easy journey as he faced several challenges, especially during the final stage of his studies when he got sick and was admitted in hospital. “In November 2020, I was struggling with my health and got admitted in hospital. All of that was happening amidst my assessments, but by the grace of God I was able to still excel. Engineering is not easy, sometimes we had a pile of assignments to complete over a short period of time. Time management was crucial,” he said. For Dube, the fun part about being a student, was the long arguments he had with his friends and classmates over the correct solutions for tutorials. He said that spending time with them, learning and challenging each other was the highlight. With the skills and knowledge that he will gain as a mechanical engineer, Dube desires to one day give back to his disadvantaged community.
Speaking about his future plans, Dube said, “For now my objective is to get as much experience as possible, preferably in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) sector, as I want to own an HVAC company in the near future.” He is currently working as an engineering intern at Purple Rain Digital Printing and aspires to have a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in the future. His advice to students who wish to follow in his footsteps is that focus is far more valuable than intelligence. “Yes, you were accepted to study engineering that means you have all the necessary tools, but do not put that inside your head. You are there to learn, be teachable. Keep your head up and ask as many questions as possible. “Engineering is exciting, we get to be exposed to many opportunities. I am living proof that with hard work and proper motivation you can excel in this field.” To get good results, Dube emphasised that academic excellence requires sacrifice as he also gave up his leisure time with friends and family. He said that he hoped that his results and achievement will inspire his younger and older siblings, as well as other youngsters in the Tongaat township.
