Mother of three (32) beats the odds to pass matric with flying colours
Samkelisiwe Xulu returned to triumphantly finish matric more than a decade after dropping out of high school.
Samkelisiwe Xulu (32), a mother of three, has shown that it’s never too late to return to school – passing matric with six distinctions and a B aggregate.
Her journey, however, was far from easy.
Xulu dropped out of school after answering a calling to become a sangoma, beginning her initiation process. But the journey didn’t go as planned, forcing her to seek other ways to survive.
“I had to find a way to earn a living, so I took several short courses and later found a job at a construction company in Salt Rock. The salary was very low and that made me realise that returning to school was the best option, even though some people felt it was too late for me,” said Xulu.
With the strong support of her family, she registered for Grade 11 in 2024 at Sinenhlanhla Secondary School in Glendale.
Returning to school as an adult came with challenges. Xulu faced bullying and discrimination from fellow pupils because of her background, with some even labelling her a witch.
She often felt isolated and her academic success was dismissed by peers because of her age.
“People would say I got good marks only because I was older than everyone else, not just in my class, but across the entire school,” she said.
Despite this, Xulu credits school staff for encouraging her to keep going.
“My teachers never gave up on me. They always motivated me to push forward and I will always be grateful for their support.”
Xulu has since been accepted to study law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a dream she describes as deeply personal.
“I grew up witnessing a lot of injustice and felt powerless to help. Studying law will give me a voice and the ability to stand up for what is right.”
She encouraged others not to be discouraged by criticism or negativity.
“Never be ashamed of where you come from. You cannot please everyone. Focus on your dreams and keep going, no matter what people say,” she said.
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