When Unisa students were advised of the cancellation of face-to-face graduation ceremonies, many accepted that the coronavirus had hindered their plans to officially celebrate this momentous occasion.
This was not the case for a few College of Law graduates who embarked on celebrating their achievements, despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the global pandemic. Nothing was going to stop this tenacious group of LLB cohorts from honouring their achievements in style!
Much planning and attention to detail went into making this occasion a unique experience; one which each graduate can proudly share with their families and children in the future. It was in the finesse of each carefully planned detail that the true sentiments of graduation were experienced.
Some students travelled from as far afield as Johannesburg and Saldanha Bay to join the private celebrations held at the Pigalle Restaurant in Sea Point, Cape Town, on 30 October 2020.
The energy and excitement were as electrifying as at an actual graduation ceremony with students proudly donning their graduation attire and flying the Unisa flag high!
This unique and special moment became a reality for Leigh-Ann Benn, Hilda Cox, Mogamat Keyaam Hendricks, Shadea Kristen Manuel, George Mangani Phiri, Joseph Alan Swanson, Maryke van der Westhuizen, and Yasmin Mohamed (scholar of law who completed her articles and is in the process of writing her Attorneys Admission Board Exams).
The pre-recorded congratulatory message from Acting Deputy Registrar, Dr Keith Jacobs, marked an extraordinary moment in the evening which brought some of the graduates to tears.
The culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and overcoming adversity are but some of the attributes which propelled our students to success. They even refer to themselves as ‘The No Sleep Team’ on their WhatsApp group, which illustrates the dedication required when tackling an LLB Degree.
They shared some key advice to new Unisa students, and LLB students, in particular, during an interview, including wise words such as ‘you are never too old to start, focus is key, the journey is rewarding, communicate with your peers by joining WhatsApp groups, be very involved and take it seriously, you need to love reading, put in the hours and be passionate, you will have a lifelong career when completing your qualification, you have made the right decision to embark on an LLB qualification!’
The graduates also reflected on what this achievement meant to them, their families, and their communities, and each one could stand proud in their achievements as new Unisa graduates.
This unique celebration will forever be remembered in 2020 and for the graduates, for many years to come. Thank you for choosing Unisa, Africa's leading open distance e-learning institution—we are so proud of you!
*By Lee-Anne Davids, Communication Officer, Western Cape Region
Publish date: 2020-11-12 00:00:00.0