Success by her own definition
Phindile Nkuna from Giyani, says she had a tough time adjusting to living in a foreign country. But twelve years later, has made the most of the opportunities that came her way.
Ntsako Mabunda
LIMPOPO – WHILE doing a bridging course to allow her entry into an actuarial science course at Wits University, Phindile Nkuna, experienced peer pressure.
In her case, she and her roommate convinced each other to drop out and move to the United Kingdom, which she says was the best decision they could have taken.
Nkuna, who comes from Bambeni village in Giyani, had a tough time adjusting to living in a foreign country.
Twelve years later, Nkuna has made the most of her time and opportunities that came her way.
“I’ve achieved my dreams a million times more than I expected I would have,” says Nkuna.
Deciding from the start that she should get educated, Nkuna enrolled for short courses at colleges before eventually registering for a degree in corporate finance at Manchester Metropolitan University. In order to achieve this, Nkuna needed about R130 000, which only a miracle would help her raise. Her miracle came in the form of a job with Virgin Trains, where she worked as a hostess. The job, which paid well, was conveniently five minutes away from her school.
Working hard and shifting between studying and work, Nkuna managed to complete her degree quite well, with some occasional help from friends who would sometimes help her with notes and assignments. Inspired by this initial degree, Nkuna registered and completed her masters’ degree.
She states earnestly that the three hardest things she has ever done in her life were losing weight, passing her driving test and her completing her masters degree.
Nkuna, who describes herself as ambitious, driven and confident, stayed on with Virgin Trains longer than anticipated so she could fulfil her biggest dream yet, building a house for her mother.
Achieving that recently, along with her British citizenship, Nkuna began job hunting and just started a new job at the banking institution Barclays.
“Success is about other people benefitting from you personally, financially, emotionally. Even knowing that I have inspired a few people along my journey means I’m achieving success by my own definition.”
