TUT security guard graduates from the same institution

A 39-year-old security guard who works at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) recently graduated from the same institution.

Father of four, Patrick Seema from Tladistad, started working at TUT Soshanguve south campus as a security guard in 2007.

He graduated with a national diploma in Language Practices.

Speaking to Rekord, Seema said he matriculated in 2002 at Motshegoa Secondary School in Makapanstaad but couldn’t further his studies immediately after he completed his matric because of financial difficulties.

“My father died in 2006 and my mother was a domestic worker, so her salary was not enough to take me to school.

“I couldn’t get financial aid from the government either so I thought I should get a job for a few years so that I can fund my studies,” he said.

He added that he lost track of time but throughout the years he never lost the drive to enrol at a higher education institution.

In 2017, Seema decided to take a leap of faith and enrol at TUT to further his studies even though he didn’t have the financial means to do so.

He said working at TUT made it easier for him to return to school because he would always feel motivated by seeing students pursuing their dreams.

“I was part of the security team that would be deployed annually to ensure that graduation ceremonies at TUT go well.

“Seeing students walk up to the stage in their graduation gowns motivated me to enrol as a student so that I can also graduate,” said Seema.

Seema added that he is very grateful to have had people at the institution who supported his decision to go back to school.

He said his colleagues were very supportive and would even stand in for him at work when had classes to attend.

“In my first year, I was a supervisor at work so that made it even easier for me to attend classes because I would ask other supervisors to stand in for me.

“My classes would start at 15:30 and end at 17:00 and sometimes my last classes would even end at 21:00.

“Sometimes my shift would be over by the time my classes end but when I’m working night shift I would have to go back to work after my late classes,” he said.

Seema said he studied and revised during his night shift while supervising his colleagues.

He was only 34 when he enrolled at TUT and the pressure of being around students half his age in class nearly got to him.

Seema said he nearly dropped out of school in his first year because he felt like he didn’t belong.

He added that being around students, aged 20 and 21, was challenging for him because he could see that he was way older than them.

“I decided to befriend three of the students in my class who didn’t look as young as they are and they are the ones who motivated me to not drop out of school.

“We became close friends and we started studying and doing assignments together. That helped me because I could now feel that I am not alone,” said Seema.

However, enrolling at TUT was not an easy task for Seema.

He said he had been applying for different courses every year at TUT but couldn’t get approved because of different issues.

“In 2014, TUT couldn’t approve my application because the course I had applied for was full and in 2015 my admission point score (APS) was not enough to get into the course I wanted.

“It was only in 2017 that I applied and managed to get approved to pursue a National Diploma in Language Practices,” he said.

Seema said he was very happy when he graduated because it’s not a lot of people who dare to go back to school.

He added that he was delighted to see the love he got from students and alumni when they knew of his graduation.

Former TUT student and investigator for the office of the public protector, Twanano Allan Mabunda, who graduated from TUT in 2013, said he was very happy to know of his graduation.

“He was very gentle with students and everyone felt safe around him, we could all talk to him.

“I could see that he was eager to have an education because he would always ask us how to enrol with the institution,” Mabunda said.

He added that Seema was a very humble man who would always celebrate the successes of other people.

Seema said elderly people who wish to go to back school should understand that nothing is impossible and education doesn’t have an age limit.

“If you qualify to go to school, make sure you enrol because education will never lead you astray.”

Seema said he is proud of his journey and thanked everyone who supported him throughout the years.

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