Michelle Ncube, a media studies graduate, walked away with the Vice-Chancellor’s Award at the School of Humanities, Society and Development Merit Awards ceremony last month.
The Vice-Chancellor’s Award is determined by an overall average of 70%, or above, throughout a candidate’s course of study. These candidates are considered to have passed with distinctions categorised as magna cum laude, summa cum laude, or cum laude.
During the same ceremony, Ncube also received the Best Undergraduate Students’ Award after having passed cum laude in her field of study.
In an interview with Forum Online, Ncube from Francistown, Botswana expressed her excitement of having passed cum laude and what led to her pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in media studies.
Ncube stated that in 2017, she enrolled for a Bachelor of Law – a career path she soon realised she didn’t want to pursue anymore. The next year she registered for a Bachelor of Arts in media studies, since she realised she was more passionate about media.
“Media is what I am most interested in, because I love writing. Law was never my thing,” said a relieved Ncube, adding: “Passing with cum laude means a lot. I am so proud of myself.”
Ncube continued to remark that despite the pandemic and its effect on the delivery of education, she never gave up on studying and doing what she loves.
She further urged students who are still studying to do it with vigour and never give up on their field of interest and what they love doing. “It was not easy, but I finally made it; let’s all do what we love and make our parents proud,” she encouraged.
Ncube’s mother said she is so proud of her daughter and she wants to thank Nyomonee Tjihukununa, a student counsellor under the directorate of student affairs, for being Michelle’s mother in Namibia.
“Growing up, Michelle loved writing and was always working hard to achieve what she wanted in life. Sending Michelle to Namibia was the best decision ever, because she never disappointed me,” remarked an elated mother.
– Unam Form Online