Accounts victory for marketing student

REUTERS

Selwyn Gardiner

Marketing student Selwyn Gardiner won the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (Acca) SA award for being the top student in Financial Accounting 111.

The University of Pretoria student obtained an impressive 95 percent average.

Gardiner is a second-year BCom marketing management student, and despite his flair for accounting, he does not have his sights set on becoming a professional accountant.

“Although I enjoy accounting, I decided to study marketing because that is where my passion lies,” he says.

“It was interesting to see that I was the only marketing student at the awards evening. This shows my versatility. I am more interested in working with people. I find analysing a product life cycle very interesting and challenging. I also find it interesting finding ways in which to introduce or revive a product.”

Gardiner attributes his success to God: “Without His guidance and endless support, I would not be where I am. Second, my family also play an important role even though they live in Cape Town. I feel I owe a great deal of my success to my parents for laying a solid foundation, as well as the support provided by my brother, Vaughan. The fact that they live in Cape Town makes it difficult for them to always support me. I also attribute my success to self-discipline and self-motivation.”

Although he does not have a role model as such, Gardiner looks up to his parents, Ophelia and Vivian. “They are the strongest people I know. Our family have been through really rough times, but they always kept believing and kept us strong. This is something I admire and strive towards. One must never give up.”

Within the next five years, he plans to have completed his Honours degree in marketing.

“I would love to be working at a corporate company as a marketing manager or a marketing consultant, working my way up the corporate ladder, using my talents and making a difference in the marketing industry and the corporate environment,” he says.

Gardiner says it is an enormous honour to receive the award from Acca, one of the most highly respected accounting bodies in the world, and urges young South Africans to make the best of every opportunity: “Work hard and be disciplined, because no one can motivate you like yourself. Building your own future is the best investment you will ever make.”

For more details and a list of all the registered and accredited institutes that offer Acca courses, see www.acca.co.za