After matric, Nicky knew she wanted to further her studies, but with several odds stacked against her, she did the only other thing she could – juggle working jobs like being a petrol attendant and a cashier to earn an income to fund her studies.
Free State, South Africa (16 September 2026) – Earning an income while studying full-time comes with a lot of demands. Demands Nthabiseng “Nicky” Pesa knows all too well.
From working long, exhausting shifts as a petrol attendant and cashier at local garages to studying late into the night, Nicky has been on a journey defined by sacrifice, resilience and determination.
After completing matric in 2017, Nicky knew she wanted to further her studies. However, with her mother unemployed, she could not afford her registration fees. As the eldest daughter, and with her younger brother still in school, Nicky also understood that her responsibilities extended far beyond her own dreams.
“At that stage, I knew I also had a responsibility towards my family,” she reflects.
At the beginning of 2018, she struggled to find employment. Rather than allowing unemployment to derail her dreams, she enrolled at Motheo TVET College, where she pursued a part-time Marketing Management programme. Although she was fortunate to receive funding from NSFAS, the financial support did not cover all her needs, as there were still bills to pay, a family to support, and everyday responsibilities to meet.
Nicky knew she could not simply wait for circumstances to change; she had to find a way to keep moving forward.
In December 2018, Nicky secured a job at a local Shell Garage, a breakthrough that offered her a measure of financial stability. But working during the day from 07:00 to 16:00 meant that when her shift ended, she would head straight to class, studying from 16:00 well into the night. Day after day, she moved between work and lectures, often running on little more than determination and the belief that her sacrifices would one day be worth it.
There were nights when she cried herself to sleep. Moments when exhaustion made giving up seem easier than carrying on. She faced failed modules, financial hardship, job losses and periods of temporary employment, while constantly trying to balance earning an income, supporting her family and keeping up with her studies.
Yet, every time life knocked her down, Nicky found a reason to rise again.
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Megon Cared for Both Her Parents. Now It’s Her Turn to Be Cared ForAnother setback arrived. She lost her job. But she refused to let another disappointment determine her future. Whenever an opportunity arose, she took it. She worked wherever she could find employment, not because the jobs were easy or glamorous, but because she needed to survive, continue her education and help support her family.
For her, education was never simply about earning qualifications or building a career. It was about creating a better future while helping her family survive the present. And so, Nicky kept going.
In 2022, she applied to the Central University of Technology Free State (CUT) to pursue a Diploma in Information Technology. She was accepted and received funding, giving her hope that the financial uncertainty that had followed her for years might finally ease.
“For a moment, it seemed as though the puzzle pieces were finally falling into place. But the funding was only paid twice a year, and once again, I found myself struggling to make ends meet,” she recalls.
Determined to keep moving forward, she secured another job in the following year, this time at a BP Garage. The income provided much-needed support and allowed her to contribute towards her family’s needs each month.
The routine was physically and emotionally exhausting, but she constantly reminded herself that she was working towards a future bigger than her present circumstances.
“Trying to balance employment, family responsibilities and university was not easy. When I was working night shifts, I studied during the day. When I worked day shifts, I would go straight from work to campus. On my days off, while many people were resting, I spent my entire days on campus trying to catch up with my academic work. Sometimes I would swap shifts with colleagues because of upcoming tests or examinations,” Nicky said.
But the fruits of her labour are finally paying off. Today, at 26, the young woman from Bloemfontein is preparing to celebrate not one, but two graduation ceremonies and two qualifications in the same month! Every long day, every late-night study session and every difficult decision have brought her one step closer to the life she has long envisioned.
“These achievements represent far more than academic success. They are a testament to every sacrifice I made, every obstacle I overcame, every tear I shed, and every moment when I chose not to quit,” a proud Nicky said.
Sources: Central University of Technology, Free State
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