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For many, the journey to higher education is a straight line after matric. But life often has different plans for others. Meet Mmapheko Louisa Khumalo, a Higher Certificate in Business Management graduate, who has turned perseverance into purpose and proved that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
Born and raised in the small village of Lebotloane in Hammanskraal, Mmapheko grew up with a strong sense of determination shaped by both her upbringing and early setbacks. After matriculating in 1991, Mmapheko enrolled at a college she believed would set her on a promising academic path.
“After matriculating, I attended what I believed to be a promising institution of higher learning," she shares. "When I discovered the college was not properly registered, it created an unexpected challenge for my career."
Instead of letting this setback define her, she used the secretarial skills she had learned to secure employment. In 2004, she found a permanent position with her current employer, where she built a stable career while raising her two children as a single mother.
“My journey has taught me the importance of perseverance and hard work. With dedication and a willingness to learn, you can achieve your goals and build a fulfilling life for yourself and your family,” she says.
Despite her professional stability, Mmapheko still carried an unfulfilled dream: completing the qualification she had missed out on in her youth.
After years of working and raising her family, Mmapheko decided to return to higher education. While helping her youngest son apply to Eduvos, she found her own academic spark reignited. At the time, she had already faced setbacks trying to balance her career, motherhood, and attempts at studying through other higher education institutions. Juggling full-time work and raising her children made it difficult to keep up with those demands, and her earlier applications hadn’t turned into the opportunities she hoped for. That history, combined with the support she now saw at Eduvos, convinced her it was finally possible to make her dream a reality.
“Helping my son with his applications sparked an immediate and powerful urge within me to return to school and finally complete what I had started so many years ago. I realised that Eduvos was not just an option for my son, but the perfect place for me to continue with my studies," she says.
The decision to study at Eduvos was a turning point. Adjusting after years away from the classroom wasn’t easy, but Mmapheko found that Eduvos provided the attentive support she needed. Mmapheko's lecturers acted as patient mentors, taking extra time to guide her through concepts she hadn’t encountered in decades. At the same time, her student advisors not only ensured she had the right resources but also checked in to make sure she felt supported as a working parent returning to study. Her classmates stepped in too, forming study groups, sharing notes, and encouraging her when balancing family, work, and study felt overwhelming.
“My experience at Eduvos has been nothing short of world-class! The lecturers were more than just teachers; they guided me every step of the way. My fellow students became a community that supported each other’s success,” she shares.
Among her proudest accomplishments is completing her qualification in record time. For Mmapheko, this was not just an academic milestone but a reminder of her determination and proof that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.
Her future ambitions are just as inspiring. With years of industrial experience, she has set her sights on a career in governance and compliance, where her new qualification will bridge the gap between practice and academic recognition.
“This qualification is the strategic foundation I need to not only continue my career but to lead with confidence and authority,” she says.
As she reflects on her journey, she thinks back on the obstacles she faced, the support that carried her through, and the determination it took to finally achieve her goal, and her message to others is simple yet powerful: “It is never too late to start again.”
Mmapheko’s story shows that with resilience, support, and belief in your dreams, you can rewrite your future at any stage of life, and in doing so, inspire others to take that first courageous step toward their own goals.
This is your chance to start your studies in 2025 and get ahead. Enrol now for our final intake, starting 29 September.
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