CAPE TOWN - She had to overcome several hurdles on her way to graduation, but Tamryn Christians’s perseverance paid off.
She is among graduates from the CPUT Faculty of Informatics and Design and is celebrating her journalism qualification.
Christians, who grew up in Mitchells Plain, said her matric year was particularly hard as her family was evicted from their home. She ended up living with teachers.
In 2015, she applied to study journalism and was placed on the waiting list.
“I worked at retail stores during this period to help my mom financially. I applied to study journalism again for the year 2016 and got in.”
She passed her first year of studies but struggled in her second year.
“We were struggling again. For the majority of the time, there was no income. We moved around quite often but going to church is what kept my faith grounded.”
She later started an internship at Independent Media.
“The pressure, however, was mounting and I failed one of my subjects. I came back the following year, and by then I had secured a contract job at a sister company of Independent Media, African News Agency. The team there did their best to support me on my journey, but the pressure was too much. I dropped out. I felt so defeated. I thought that graduating or obtaining any sort of qualification was just not for me.”
However, a year later she realised she needed to return to her studies.
“A family member offered me a place to live because I was basically homeless. I did my second year in 2020 again and passed.”
Christians completed her third year last year.
“A lot has happened these past six years. It basically took me double the amount of years to graduate, but I did it. I feel I have come a long way and finally my perseverance has paid off.
“I'd like to encourage everyone who is on the brink of giving up to keep pushing. You may think that something is not for you when it doesn’t happen when you expected it to happen. But it will happen if it is destined to. Don't become distracted by what everyone else is achieving around you. Focus on yourself and where you need to be.”
Christians now works as a freelance videographer and photographer, and does public relations work for a political party.
Cape Times