For Matieho Mkhize, graduating with a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of the Free State (UFS) was never just about receiving a qualification – it was about what that moment represents for a family that has had to stretch every resource to help her make it onto the graduation stage.

Mkhize, who grew up in Letshalemaduke Village in Qwaqwa, was raised by her parents alongside her two older brothers. At home, the family has largely relied on her mother’s South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant, as her mother is living with a disability. That grant has been the main source of income in the household, supplying their daily needs while also supporting Mkhize’s education where possible.

“Obtaining this degree means everything to me, as it has changed everything,” Mkhize says. “We went from only depending on my mother’s monthly SASSA grant to finally having a key that can unlock a different door for all of us.”

Growing up in an under-resourced environment shaped how she approached her studies. Getting to university was step one. Staying there proved to be another challenge altogether.

During her time at the UFS, the pressure of her circumstances began to build. Watching her mother struggle financially while trying to support her education weighed heavily on her. Over time, this strain affected her emotionally.

She speaks openly about experiencing depression and anger during her studies, a period that made it difficult to keep going. It was during this time that she reached out to UFS Student Counselling and Development (SCD), where she received support that helped her manage both her mental health and her academic responsibilities.

While she was working through this, another setback followed when she lost her funding, placing her studies in further jeopardy and adding to the pressure she was already carrying.

Receiving the bursary allowed her to continue her studies and brought a sense of stability at a time when things had felt uncertain.

When she speaks about achieving her goal and making it to her graduation ceremony, she says she cannot separate her success from her mother’s role in her journey. “It belongs to my mother, who set aside her own dreams so that I could pursue mine. It belongs to a woman who stayed up with me through long nights of studying, making sure I was okay, even when exhaustion weighed heavily on her.

“It belongs to a mother who went without so that I would not lack, who used what she had for my education and my graduation, even when it meant sacrificing her own needs. Above all, it belongs to a mother who placed my dreams before her own, quietly building a future she may not have had for herself, but made it possible for me.”

Now qualified to teach English and Business Studies, Mkhize is clear about the role she wants to play in her future classroom. Her focus is on learners who face difficult circumstances and risk falling behind. She wants to equip them with the knowledge and confidence to stay in school, complete their studies, and see options beyond what they may currently know.

Her mother, Mathoto Mkhize, said, “I am beyond proud and happy for my child.”