Mr Sbusiso Mbhele, a determined student from Ixopo, has already made a remarkable impression in his first semester at UKZN by scoring an outstanding 90% in his results.
Driven by the responsibilities that come with being the eldest among his siblings, Mbhele is committed to setting a positive example.
‘Being the older brother has motivated me to try and excel at everything I do so that I teach my younger siblings that anything is possible through hard work,’ he said.
In discussing his academic success amid the typical challenges of first-year life, 18-year-old Mbhele revealed his disciplined approach: studying two weeks before exams has been his go-to strategy.
‘I would also meet up with friends occasionally to test our knowledge. I made sure to attend about 80-to-90-percent of my tutorials and lectures which really helped me. By making sure I aced my tests, it became easier to prepare for the exam because you are just revising,’ he said.
Currently in his first-year Bachelor of Commerce Extended Curriculum in Accounting studies and aspiring to become a chartered accountant, Mbhele chose the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) as his institution of choice. For him, studying at UKZN meant staying close to home and family while gaining a quality education within the province.
‘What really pushed me towards this career was the satisfaction I got when an accounting statement balanced. It was a sensation that I got from none of my other subjects.’ he said.
Reflecting on his initial experiences, Mbhele highlighted the supportive learning environment at UKZN. ‘The lecturers are incredibly helpful, treating us with respect and dedication,’ he said. ‘The most special moment I had was when I received my test marks for Econ1CO and realised that I consistently grew my marks by 10% per test (from 80% in test one, 90% in test two, and 100% in test three).’
Words: Samukelisiwe Cele
Photographs: Supplied