The DLS celebrates our graduates!

The Department of Library Services (DLS) takes great joy in congratulating our remarkable members, who have recently achieved a significant milestone in their educational journey.

Join us in celebrating their graduation and honouring their dedication and hard work. We asked them a few questions about their journey and this is what they said:

Nikki Haw

1. What degree have you completed and when?

This is my second honours degree, BA Honours - English. I graduated this year May.

2. Can you share a sentence or two about your feelings after the graduation ceremony?

I didn’t attend the graduation ceremony, but I did attend the departmental prize giving. My parents and my son were there and it was lovely to share the celebration with them. It was also great seeing so many of the students I studied with receiving recognition for their hard work.

3. How did the library assist you in your studies, and did it play a role at all?

I could not have embarked on this study journey if I did not work at UP Library. I also checked out many of the prescribed works from the Library as well as secondary reading and reading up further on the subjects and authors which particularly interested me. Finally, my mini-dissertation was on a selection of books in UP Special Collections. I hope to take this study further.

4. Did you face any hardships along the way that you had to overcome? 

My second year of ENG undergrad was 2020, the year of lockdown. So third year undergrad and the first year of honours were challenging with online classes and staying at home. As I was working full time at the same time, I completed the honours over two years, and balancing work and studies was tricky. And perhaps most importantly, my son came home in 2021 and studying, working and learning how to be a parent to a toddler was a perfect storm of challenges!!

Jeff Morerwa

1. What degree have you completed and when?

I completed an Information Science Honors degree at the University of Pretoria on 30 November 2023 and graduated on 13 May this year.

2. Can you share a sentence or two about your feelings after the graduation ceremony?

After the graduation ceremony, I felt a sense of accomplishment that I hadn't experienced during my undergraduate graduation. Having my family attend the ceremony and sharing the moment with my friends and peers was memorable and inspired me to continue my academic journey. I feel blessed and honored, believing that none of this would be possible without my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

3. How did the library assist you in your studies, and did it play a role at all?

The library at the University of Pretoria, throughout my undergraduate years, equipped me with the necessary skills to successfully complete my research assignments.

4. Did you face any hardships along the way that you had to overcome?

I encountered no hardships during my postgrad that could divert me from my goal of graduating. Every challenge was met with a positive attitude and the support of my family and friends.

Banele Jaca

1. What degree have you completed and when?

I completed my Bachelor's in Information Sciences degree in December last year.

2. Can you share a sentence or two about your feelings after the graduation ceremony?

The graduation was a moment of pride and joy for me as it was proof and a mark of my hard work and dedication over the past years.

3. How did the library assist you in your studies, and did it play a role at all?

The library played a huge role in providing me with the learning resources I needed to complete my degree. It also gave me a safe and quiet space to prepare for my tests and exams

4. Did you face any hardships along the way that you had to overcome?

Yes, I encountered several challenges in my academic journey, including managing my coursework as it was a lot and having to work under a lot of stress and pressure due to a lot of submissions and other coursework. But through all, it has taught me resilience and the ability to work under pressure.

Zekhethelo Mazibuko

1. What degree have you completed and when?

Bachelor in Information Science, completed in 2023.

2. Can you share a sentence or two about your feelings after the graduation ceremony?

After my graduation ceremony, I was flooded with mixed emotions, I was filled with pride in my accomplishments, and nostalgia for my undergraduate journey especially the ones from my final year of study but overall filled with excitement about what the future has in store for me.

3. How did the library assist you in your studies, and did it play a role at all?

The library was my second home during my studies and remains so. It's not just about it being an information hub for books but it is a place where I knew I could focus without any distractions. During exam periods when the study centre would be packed and the atmosphere of focused energy remained, that would motivate me to keep pushing forward with studying just like everyone around me. The online UP library has been instrumental in my academic journey, knowing that there are resources beyond Google Scholar opened up a whole new world of research possibilities for me because I could access various other UP databases that enhanced my learning experience as a student.

4. Did you face any hardships along the way that you had to overcome?

My final year was filled with challenges, the workload seemed never-ending, with deadlines looming almost every week and on top of that I had to dedicate time to my final year project which added to the pressure. Close to my exams, I experienced the loss of a family member which took an emotional toll but despite the setbacks, I was determined to persevere and my goal was clear which was to graduate on record time with good grades and with the support determination and faith I managed to navigate through these challenges and my goal was achieved.

Tsholofelo Rakgalakane

1. What degree have you completed and when?

  Bachelor of Information Science Honours

2. Can you share a sentence or two about your feelings after the graduation ceremony?

  I felt great for the achievement after the most challenging year I ever had in UP.

3. How did the library assist you in your studies, and did it play a role at all?

I've gained valuable skills from the library, enabling me to succeed academically. Paraphrasing and information-seeking skills.

4. Did you face any hardships along the way that you had to overcome?

I experienced financial issues and was awarded the UP-merit award, which assisted me in overcoming them. 

Kamogelo Mphuthi

1. What degree have you completed and when?

I completed a Bachelor in Information Science at the University of Pretoria in 2023 and recently graduated on the 13th of May.

2. Can you share a sentence or two about your feelings after the graduation ceremony?

Graduating made me feel like I can achieve anything I put my mind to. Nothing is impossible just as long as I work hard for it.

3. How did the library assist you in your studies, and did it play a role at all?

I used the library a lot during my undergraduate studies, especially for searching and retrieving credible resources from databases for my assignments. Using library databases was 100 percent better than searching on Google.

4. Did you face any hardships along the way that you had to overcome? 

I faced challenges when I had to transition from online learning to face-to-face learning when Covid-19 was over. That was when I had to take my studies seriously and come out of my comfort zone. With consistency and determination, I was able to conquer and graduate in the end.