There is a quiet strength that runs through the stories of these young women highlighted below – a shared determination to rise above self-doubt, silence the noise of imposter syndrome and choose discipline over distraction.
For this group of Bachelor of Commerce graduates from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), graduating cum laude was not just about academic excellence. It was about mindset, about showing up, especially on the days when it feels hardest.
Across lecture halls, late-night study sessions and moments of uncertainty, candidates each learned the same lesson in different ways: that growth begins where comfort ends.
For Ms Aaliyah Rambaran, who specialises in Information Systems and Supply Chain Management, her journey was as much internal as it was academic.
“In my first year, graduating, let alone cum laude, felt so distant,” Rambaran reflects. “My biggest challenge was getting past the self-sabotage I placed on myself.”
University life introduced her not only to complex economic theories, but to the reality of navigating her own mindset. Over time, what once felt like limitation became strength.
“My mind was both my biggest enemy and my greatest strength. Getting through that imposter syndrome took work, but it was worth it.”
That same quiet discipline and belief is echoed in Information Systems Technology and Marketing student Ms Caitlin Naidoo’s journey, one defined by consistency, structure, and learning to trust the process.
“Graduating cum laude reflects discipline, resilience and consistency,” she says. “It’s a reminder that the effort you invest over time truly matters.”
Like many students, Naidoo had to learn how to balance competing demands, like academic pressure, personal responsibilities and the constant pull of deadlines. What carried her through was not perfection, but structure.
“I focused on setting clear goals, breaking tasks into manageable steps and staying proactive,” Naidoo explains. “A growth mindset helped me see challenges as opportunities to improve.”
That mindset – steady, grounded, and forward – is what allowed her to not only succeed academically, but grow into a more confident version of herself.
“I’m proud of my ability to stay committed to my goals despite the challenges,” she reflects. “And of the personal growth that came with it.”
For Information Systems Technology and Supply Chain Management graduate Ms Ohi Johnson, the journey was more emotional, shaped by self-doubt and the quiet work of learning to believe in herself.
“I never thought my intelligence was anything special,” Johnson admits. “But now I have it here in front of me, it tells me that I deserve to be celebrated.”
Her story is one of resilience built over time, through pressure, perseverance, and moments that tested her mental strength.
“Through all the tears, exam stress, laughter and, of course, two-minute noodles – I became much stronger than I thought I was capable of.”
For Ms Peyton Govender, who chose Information Systems Technology and Computing, success meant confronting something less visible but just as powerful – her anxiety.
“There were moments of pressure, self-doubt and emotional fatigue,” she shares. “Learning to manage my mental well-being became just as important as my academic work.”
By developing healthier coping strategies and allowing herself to lean on others, she found a way to keep moving forward.
“This journey has been one of resilience, growth, and perseverance,” said Govender.
And then there is Accounting Management graduate Ms Mishka Singh, whose story centres on discipline – the kind that shows up quietly, day after day.
“Consistency, even on the hardest days, is what turns long-term goals into real outcomes,” she says. “Choosing discipline when it was uncomfortable is what shaped my journey.”
Across their different fields, from finance and economics to information systems marketing, and supply chain management – these graduates found purpose not only in what they studied, but in how they approached it.
Naidoo, for example, found her passion at the intersection of technology and human behaviour, combining Information Systems and Marketing to better understand not just data, but people.
“I was intrigued by how technology and marketing are becoming intertwined,” she explains. “It allows me to blend creativity with data-driven thinking to create meaningful strategies.”
She sees a future where businesses connect with people in more human, responsive ways, powered by data, but grounded in trust.
“It’s about using technology to build genuine connections, not just transactions.”
That same sense of purpose runs through all their stories – a desire to not just succeed, but to contribute.
At UKZN, they found more than academic training. They found an environment that pushed them to think critically, adapt constantly and grow both personally and professionally.
They also found support in families who believed in them, in lecturers who challenged them and in peers who made the journey lighter.
Behind every cum laude result, they remind us, is a reality often unseen.
“The late nights, the pressure, the sacrifices,” Naidoo reflects. “Success often looks effortless from the outside, but it requires consistency and resilience.”
Rambaran echoes the same sentiments. “People see the outcome, not the work – the early mornings, the doubt, the sacrifices.”
And yet, despite the pressure, what stands out most is not struggle but growth.
As they look ahead, their ambitions stretch across industries – finance, technology, marketing, data and beyond. But what unites them is a shared vision to use what they have learned to make a meaningful impact.
Govender hopes to contribute to more innovative, customer-focused solutions in the digital space. She is driven to build systems that solve real-world problems.
Rambaran is pursuing a future in finance, focused on transparency and resilience.
Johnson is passionate about improving how businesses operate through technology.
Singh is committed to ethical, forward-looking financial decision-making.
Their message to those still on the journey is simple, but powerful. “Stay consistent. Trust the process.”
As these young women step into the next chapter, they do so as more than graduates. They are proof of what is possible when belief meets effort, when doubt is challenged, and when discipline becomes a daily choice.
The School of Commerce at UKZN sees a generation of women in commerce rising – they are grounded, resilient and ready to lead.
Words: Oliver Meth
Photographs: Sethu Dlamini
