Cum Laude Success Built on Discipline and Consistency

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Ms Phumla Mngwevu’s idea of success is grounded in practice rather than pressure: do not cram, start early; stay consistent; and keep close to people who push you to do better than you thought possible.

For her, academic excellence was never about moments of brilliance, but about routine, discipline and the gradual building of confidence through effort.

She did not enter university as a high achiever. Instead, she arrived as someone rebuilding after work shifts, financial delays and after years of quietly questioning whether she was “good enough” for the kind of academic success she would later make her own.

Today, she graduates cum laude with a Bachelor of Social Science Honours in General Psychology. For Mngwevu, the distinction carries deeper meaning than marks on a transcript. It reflects, she says, “growth and resilience,” especially for someone who once described herself as an average learner.

Raised by her mother, with her aunt playing a central role in her upbringing, it is from them that she learnt discipline, perseverance and self-assurance. Those values were not abstract lessons - they became the quiet structure that carried her through setbacks, uncertainty and self-doubt.

“I was very timid growing up,” she reflected. “But doing well and thriving in my academics has elevated my self-esteem to another level. I am proud of this version of me.”

Her academic journey, however, did not follow a straight line. Financial constraints meant she could not enter university immediately after school. Instead, she worked at a call centre for two years. That period, she recounts, shaped her in ways she only fully understood later - teaching her discipline, time management, and how to engage with people under pressure.

When she finally secured funding in 2023, she entered university differently: not as someone rushing to prove herself, but as someone determined to make the opportunity count.

Her family played an essential role in motivating her. Her mother and aunt consistently encouraged her to aim higher, even when she doubted herself. Her sister’s own cum laude graduation also became a light-hearted but powerful motivator. 

“She would joke about what a cum laude graduate eats for breakfast,” Mngwevu recalled with a smile. “I knew then I needed to follow in her footsteps.”

A close friend also became a steady influence, offering encouragement, support in self-development and motivation to take both academics and personal growth seriously.

As a student, her approach was deliberate rather than dramatic. She attended every lecture, sought clarity during consultations and refused to let confusion linger. Her rule was simple: never settle for less than 70%. Behind that standard, however, was something more important - consistency.

“I never crammed. I broke my work into sections, revised regularly and made sure I understood what I was learning,” she explained.

She also credits the company she kept. Surrounding herself with peers who took their studies seriously became, in her words, an unspoken form of motivation. “I befriended people who were smarter than me. They encouraged me unknowingly to do better.”

Still, the journey was not free of doubt. Adjusting to academic demands often shook her confidence. In those moments, she returned to her reasons for starting and to the small wins that slowly rebuilt her belief in herself. 

“There were times I doubted myself, but each achievement helped me regain confidence.”

One of her most defining moments came when she received her first Dean’s Commendation. It was, she said, the first clear sign that she was on the right path. More recognition followed, including membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society. But perhaps the most unexpected highlight was being selected for a student exchange programme in Europe. 

“That showed me education opens doors. I would not have gone abroad in my early twenties without it.”

Now completing her Honours in Psychology, Mngwevu is focused on building both academic and professional experience, while considering further postgraduate studies. Long-term, she hopes to use her qualifications to contribute meaningfully to society and to be a reminder that background does not determine trajectory.

Her message is simple but firm: “Don’t let your past, your circumstances or your performance define your future. Delays are not denials.”

Words: Rakshika Sibran

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini