After overcoming financial challenges and self-doubt, the Atlantis-born academic completes her PhD in Afrikaans and Dutch in just two years and now hopes to uplift communities through education and storytelling.
Stellenbosch, South Africa (26 March 2026) – For Dr Allison Matroos, earning a doctorate wasn’t just about academic success, but more about proving that where you come from doesn’t have to define where you’re going.
The Atlantis-born academic recently graduated with a PhD in Afrikaans and Dutch from Stellenbosch University, completing the demanding programme in just two years. It’s a remarkable achievement on its own, but even more so considering the road she had to travel to get there.
Now working as a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer at the university, Matroos is using her platform to highlight the importance of representation, especially for communities like Dr Atlantis, which are often spoken about in negative terms.
Her journey began in a home shaped by financial challenges, where she was raised by her grandmother and became the first in her family to attend university.
“When you grow up in Atlantis you learn at an early age of survival, but also what the word ‘perseverance’ really means. My journey wasn’t easy. I walked a winding path of falling and getting up again in an environment where one’s dreams are often overshadowed by violence and feel out of one’s reach.”
Despite the setbacks, she kept going.
“If I could have been paid R1 for all the times I thought about giving up, I would be a millionaire today. Knowing that my mother and grandmother were praying for me and that no one was going to come and save me, that I was responsible for my own future, kept me going.”
Her research explores how literature can be used as a powerful teaching tool, particularly for students learning Afrikaans as a second language. By introducing poetry and short stories into the classroom, she encourages a more engaging and less intimidating learning environment.
Beyond her academic work, she is also a creative writer, using storytelling as a way to process personal experiences and reflect the realities of communities that are often overlooked.
“My research emphasises that the choice of culturally appropriate texts dramatically increases students’ engagement and motivation.”
With her doctorate now complete, she hopes to expand her work into broader educational spaces while continuing to tell stories that matter.
Sources: Stellenbosch University/ Alec Basson
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