UKZN Staffer Reaches for her Dream … and Graduates!

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College of Humanities Student Support Services staff member and mature student, Mrs Vinotha Moodley, has graduated with a degree in Psychology.

It took persistence, dedication, determination and sacrifice for Moodley to achieve the milestone in her life.

She says lessons she learned included the importance of the Learn Online programme of the School of Applied Human Sciences, the vitality of being a member of a study group and the importance of a parent teaching their children to lead by example.

Moodley has been a UKZN staff member for almost 16 years during which time she has helped organise many graduation ceremonies but this year she went on stage to be capped!

She obtained a teaching diploma in 1999, but felt the need to further her education by acquiring a university degree. Despite the challenges of being a mother, a wife, a fulltime UKZN employee and a mature student, she succeeded in all fields!

Moodley says women have to choose between pursuing their dreams and motherhood, with each choice laden with guilt.

She points out that being a mature student, comes with its own set of challenges. ‘For mature students, it’s not always easy as we often worry that we will not fit in because of our age. But our zeal and dedication give us an edge over the youngsters.

‘Being a member of a study group also helped. It made the learning process much easier and more fun because when you study as a group each person gets a chance to revise by sharing their knowledge with others. We even sang things to each other to help the information stick.’

Moodley acknowledged the Learn Online programme as she couldn’t always attend lessons due to work commitments.

She expressed gratitude to her husband and son for their continued support and her family for their unwavering support and encouragement. ‘I could not have made it without them.

Moodley is currently studying towards an Honours degree in Psychology.

Clearly the study bug has bitten because she now believes the sky is the limit!

Sibongile H. Moyo