From Hustle to Honours: Mziwovuyo Made It Work
A journey of determination, education, and achievement
Mziwovuyo's inspiring journey from a Higher Certificate to BCom Honours in Human Resource Management showcases the power of determination and NBCRFLI's bursary support. His story of balancing work, studies, and personal life while maintaining excellence demonstrates that with dedication, dreams do come true.
Tell us a little bit about your previous academic achievement.
I joined Council in 2017 and at the time I had a Higher Certificate in Business Management. I embarked on a journey to further my studies in 2018 and enrolled for a Higher Certificate in Human Resource Management. Immediately after completing that I enrolled for an Advanced Diploma in Management. I was self-funding my studies and completed them with the University of the Western Cape.
Tell us about your recent academic achievement.
I completed BCom (Hons) in Human Resource Management in December of 2024. I had enrolled in February 2022 with the University of the Western Cape. This time around Council came to my rescue in terms of funding my studies.
What inspired you to study further?
My obsession with self-development and the desire to grow and reach greater heights inspired me to study further. I am someone who refuses to be a product of their environment; I want to see change in my environment through me. I am not a motivational speaker, I do not like speaking about my struggles, but I want my actions and achievements to speak for me and inspire anyone who is watching me from a distance to want to do great in life too with the mindset "if he managed to achieve all of that living with us in this environment, why wouldn't I?". When I joined Council, I wanted to be a Designated Agent and to stand a chance I needed to be qualified.
How do you feel about finally graduating?
It feels like a dream come true, when I look back all of it is surreal. But it's also an assurance that if you put your mind into anything it will materialise eventually, sooner or later. All I ever wanted was a degree and then take a long break, to complete an Honours is like a dream come true after long sleepless nights putting in the work.
What was the biggest challenge in balancing work and studies?
I think the most challenging thing was having to keep the same positive energy I am known for at work because no one knows that I did not sleep the whole night trying to finalise assignments. I was fatigued because I allocated 200% for my work life balance: 100% for work, 60% for my studies and 40% for social life. So, there was never a time I used my studies to justify why I did not perform at work, but there would be times where I felt like I would have done better if I was studying full time. At the same time, I was aware of the fact that the reason I was able to study is because of my work which is why 100% was fully allocated to it.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned during your studies?
I learned that if you start something you have no choice but to finish it whilst you can, because if you don't it will haunt you for the rest of your life.
Is there anything you wish you had known before starting your degree?
I figured out that not knowing is a great thing sometimes, because had I known how much I disliked the research module I would have never pursued my degree. That's one module that gave me headache, but I knew I would never finish my course if I didn't give it all the attention, so I had to pull up my socks.
Has your education helped you in any way on your current role?
Education has helped me a lot in terms of understanding the operations, respecting the organisational hierarchy, the importance of communication and including the team you're leading in the decision-making process and understanding that everyone is unique in their own way and should be treated as such. It has also helped me gain confidence in myself as a professional and has broadened my way of thinking and approach to problem solving.
What skills from your studies have been most useful in your job so far?
I would say interpersonal skills because I am able to communicate effectively, and conflict resolution because I am able to foresee anything that might cause conflict and come up with solutions that will prevent it. I pay attention to details, I am confident and I think my report writing skills have improved a lot.
What advice would you give to colleagues considering further studies?
You will never know if it's difficult or easy until you register for your studies. What I might consider as difficult might be very easy for you. So, go ahead and apply for that dream course you've always wanted to pursue even if you cannot afford it - Council has you covered with a bursary, provided you meet the requirements.
Now that you've graduated, what's next for you?
Now I will go for all the opportunities I spent all this time preparing myself for. If education is really the key I would like to see doors that have been locked, opened because I'm close to being a locksmith. When I am in a great space, I will go for the master key, but I must still learn to love the research module first.
"If education is really the key I would like to see doors that have been locked, opened because I'm close to being a locksmith."
— Mziwovuyo