Turffontein young role-model hustles for her future

A never-give-up attitude has helped Romaana Sutton (23) from Turffontein West to secure a bursary to do her postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Communication at the University of Johannesburg.

From their Bursary Fund, Sabat Batteries will sponsor Romaana’s 2021 tuition fees of R29 120 to study for her diploma. This after she wrote to Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels and pleaded for sponsorship.

Among other things she wrote in her letter, she said:

“I have applied to continue my studies and have been accepted into a postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Communication at UJ. This is a new course that was introduced and set to be rolled out this year. I am honoured to have been accepted to be a part of test-driving this qualification. Since my first year in 2017, our lecturers have spoken about this qualification and now it is finally here. I believe obtaining this qualification could potentially open doors for me and be my pit stop to obtaining my honours degree, which has always been a lifelong dream for me.

“I come from a disadvantaged community where substance abuse, gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy are quite dominant but I would not let my circumstances and surroundings determine my dreams and aspirations for a better future. I am one of the first in my family to even obtain a matric certificate and then a university qualification. I pose as a hope to my community and little children in my area look up to me.

“I recently lost my internship due to Covid-19, and things have been tough. I have been applying for jobs without receiving any feedback. I believe that returning to school will be good for me and my mental health. I am due to register in just two weeks or lose my place in the programme. I would appreciate it if you could make my dream come through considering funding my studies.

“I believe I will be a worthy candidate to receive funding because I am knowledge-hungry. I want to learn more theory and put it to use in the working environment. I am a highly motivated student and an individual who believes I can do everything and anything that I set my mind to.”

Romaana has already obtained a Diploma in Public Relations and Communications from UJ in 2019, with eight distinctions. In her family and community, Romaana is a rolemodel.

Her mom lost her job in 2019 and she’s been baking to keep food on the table. Romaana knew her mom will not be able to pay for her studies, but she refused to give up and wrote to Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels.

Romaana said, “I have a passion for the communication and PR industry and I am passionate about effective communication. My mission in my professional and academic life is to create meaning about various topics in any context through my communication and PR expertise that I have acquired along the way. I aspire to develop my skills as a communicator and practitioner and become a mogul within the field and contribute to new skills, knowledge and experience of the working of tomorrow.”