Proud student graduates after enduring hardships

Nurdeen Joshua

Nurdeen Joshua

Published Dec 22, 2021

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CAPE TOWN - When his home burnt down while he was in matric, leaving him and his family homeless for weeks, Nurdeen Joshua from Lavender Hill said he never thought his dream of becoming a teacher would ever come true.

The 23-year-old who graduated for a second time this month said it has not been an easy journey.

Joshua, then 18, was at school when his home went up in flames, nearly killing his grandmother.

The fire also destroyed his study material, sports accolades and coursework.

“In my matric year I struggled a bit trying to catch up in all of my subjects, and unfortunately, I failed maths.

“Because I did not get accepted into various universities with my first applications, I didn’t know how I would get to a point of being a qualified educator or where to go next,” he said.

He said he then decided to work at his previous high school in his neighbourhood and help out, not knowing that one day he would also become a teacher.

Joshua, who first graduated in May, graduated for the second time this month with a post-graduate certificate in Education (PGCE),

“My first graduation was on May 3 this year where I got my BA degree.

“My second graduation was on December 15 where I got my PGCE.

“When I look back it still feels surreal. I had to overcome a lot of adversity. My family and I went from being roommates to being backyard dwellers to finally living in flats in an area which is known for its rampant poverty, gangsterism and unemployment.

“These conditions can have psychological implications on anyone but I did not break because I had a dream which surfaced to my conscious state of mind everyday,” he said.

Now qualified, Joshua will start his work teaching English and physical education at a high school in Retreat next month.

“I will also be taking charge of the boys sport but I also have plans to study further after two years of working so I can get into lecturing,” he said.

His former mathematics teacher at Steenberg High School, Riedewaan Gaffoor, said they were all proud of what Joshua has accomplished.

“In Grade 12 during his final year the flats in Lavender Hill where he used to stay burnt down completely and he lost everything.

“Yet he persevered and rose through it all. He was always an all-around great leader and a great athlete.

“We are proud of what he has accomplished and we have actually offered him a job this year but he has already accepted an offer to start next month at another school,” Gaffoor said.

Cape Times

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