Girl who thought she was done with university rises to Chancellor’s Award at TUT

A student who once believed her university journey had ended, has emerged as a Chancellor’s Award recipient in the Faculty of Humanities at the Tshwane University of Technology. Her story traces a shift from uncertainty to purpose, shaped by faith, consistency and a growing passion for communication.

Gloria Kwenaite, the girl who thought she was done with university and now a National Diploma in Integrated Communication graduate, hesitantly started her journey at TUT in 2023. Months earlier, she had stepped away from an engineering path at the University of Pretoria, after what she describes as a quarter-life identity crisis. She had not only left a degree but also a version of herself she had carefully planned.

She turned to God for direction and made it clear she did not want to return to university. Guided by faith, rather than certainty, she enrolled at TUT. She committed to showing up, participating and speaking up with the confidence she could gather.

As the months passed, her perspective shifted. Between lectures and demanding assignments, she began to enjoy her studies. Her natural creativity, curiosity and communication skills found structure and purpose. She immersed herself in the field, observing how brands position themselves and how media shapes society. Integrated Communication expanded her thinking and revealed new possibilities.

According to Gloria she did not begin her journey aiming for recognition and was surprised by plot twist she did not apply for, receiving the Chancellor’s Award. In fact, she only learned about the Chancellor’s Award through a friend. Her focus remained on working diligently and staying consistent. Over time, that consistency produced results.

She received the Chancellor’s Award in the Faculty of Humanities for the Class of 2026, a moment she describes as unplanned but exiting and earned through steady effort.

Although she does not have everything figured out, she trusted God, stayed disciplined and remained committed. She now looks forward to building a career in digital transformation and communication while remaining open to growth and new opportunities.

Her message to young people facing the same dilemma she did: trust God fully, work consistently and show up with intention.