
Political Science Student Graduates Summa Cum Laude!
A long, hard road came to a highly successful end for Ms Luntu Hlatshwayo when she graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science degree summa cum laude from UKZN.
Hlatshwayo faced financial difficulties during her studies but this did not stop her achieving at the highest level.
‘It was quite surreal, I couldn’t believe it when I saw summa cum laude in my graduation particulars at student central. It was an amazing feeling, I was elated,' she said.
‘Like most people, I’m my own worst critic. Self-doubt has its way of killing your confidence sometimes so the final result instilled a deep sense of self-affirmation.’
Hlatshwayo added that during her time at UKZN, she met the ‘most amazing’ people from fellow students who inspired her to pursue academic excellence to academic staff who enlightened her and encouraged her to think critically.
‘I was lucky to meet people who stimulated both my intellectual and personal growth.’
This year she plans to pursue her master’s degree and hopes to complete it by the end of the year.
‘I would love to do my PhD overseas. It’s a dream I am actively working towards,’ said Hlatshwayo. ‘As a humanities scholar, it’s only right that I come back to South Africa after my PhD and use the knowledge I would have gained to further develop my country.’
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