A determined African woman, Samkelisiwe Mahlanze, has achieved remarkable success, earning a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from the University of Pretoria, after years of rejections and delays.
Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and refusing to give up on personal dreams despite life’s many delays and disappointments.
Mahlanze's Story and How She Did It
For Samkelisiwe, the road to earning her degree was far from straightforward. Back in 2009, after completing secondary school, she initially planned to study Information Technology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
However, circumstances prevented her from pursuing that dream at the time. Instead, life took her in a different direction.
She later enrolled for an Electrical Engineering diploma at a university of technology in South Africa. What was meant to be a three-year diploma program turned into a ten-year journey filled with obstacles, interruptions, and moments of doubt.
Along the way, she faced challenges that made her question whether university education was truly meant for her.
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At different points, she considered giving up completely. But despite the setbacks, she remained resilient and eventually completed the diploma program, earning her qualification after years of persistence.
Her achievement alone reflected determination, but her story did not end there.
After leaving formal education, Samkelisiwe spent much of her twenties building practical experience in the technology industry. She pursued several international certifications, attended short courses, and used the knowledge she gained to establish her own business.
At the same time, she was navigating another important role, motherhood.
Balancing family responsibilities with career growth was not always easy, but through every phase of her life, the dream of returning to school remained alive within her. Then came a turning point.
At 35 years old, she made the bold decision to return to university and pursue the dream she had once been forced to abandon: earning a degree in Information Technology.
“At 35 years, I woke up and decided to pick up the pieces where I had left them before I was a mother and before the worries of life,” she shared. “I did not want to give up on myself.”
That decision marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Drawing strength from all the versions of herself she had become over the years—from Electrical Engineering student to cybersecurity professional, entrepreneur, and mother—Samkelisiwe embraced the challenge of starting again.
Yet for her, the degree represented more than academics. It became proof that delayed dreams can still be achieved.
Reflecting on her life journey, she acknowledged the many pivots she had taken over the years and the sacrifices involved in becoming the woman she is today.
“With so many pivots in my life, from Electrical Engineering to Cybersecurity and being a businesswoman, I never want to leave all the women I had to be to reach where I am today,” she said.
Completing her degree at 35 became another milestone in a life defined by resilience and reinvention.
Now, beyond celebrating her own success, Samkelisiwe hopes her story will inspire other women who may feel discouraged by age, motherhood, rejection, or delayed dreams. “Let’s focus on helping other women reach for the stars, pivot, and own their power,” she encouraged.
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