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Alison Geduld promised her daughters that she would complete her studies when they went to university, and she did it; she was able to graduate alongside her daughter.

 

Cape Town, South Africa (21 July 2021) – Alison Geduld, age 49, promised her daughters that she would enrol and complete her education when they started university. Now, years after that promise was made, Alison was able to graduate with her eldest daughter Savannah, age 23. Her youngest, Dakota, is completing her third year.

Alison graduated with her first degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice, on the 12th of July 2021. A few days later, on the 15th, Savannah graduated with a BA in Theatre and Performance, specialising in Theatre Making.

Alison worked hard alongside both her daughters and the trio have inspired and supported each other along the way.

“Graduation 2021 is a celebration of many things for Savannah and me but above all else, it is the gift of resilience that we want to revel in,” said Alison.

“I told them, ‘I’ll go back to school when you two are enrolled at university’,” she said.

Alison had started her studies at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology when she left school in 1991 but had to drop out due to her family’s finances. Instead, she entered the workforce and never got the chance to complete her studies.

Alison decided to enrol at the UCT Graduate School of Business once her youngest daughter Dakota had completed her first year. She submitted the application and waited for feedback. When the letter of acceptance arrived, the family were overjoyed.

Nerves, fear and doubt were Alison’s friends leading up to her first day, but when she crossed the threshold of her first class, she knew she was meant to be there.

While she only had one year at the university before the pandemic hit, Alison was determined to follow through with her promise and complete her education.

All three ladies took online learning in their stride during 2020. Alison was able to do her classes digitally while Savannah, a theatre major, had to adapt to the new world and did it was grace. Savanna even earned herself a scholarship from the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF).

“We became a study squad and support team for each other,” said Alison. “We read each other’s work, gave input and chatted about approaches. It was a very collaborative and fulfilling time.”

The story doesn’t end here. Alison now plans to further her studies, and Savannah’s scholarship is being used to do an MA in Applied Theatre. Dakota is set to wrap up her studies to earn a Bachelor of Social Science.

The entire family is an inspiration, and Alison’s story is proof that you can study at any point in your life, so never give up on your dreams!


Sources: UCT – Press Release
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About the Author

Tyler Leigh Vivier is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Her passion is to spread good news across South Africa with a big focus on environmental issues, animal welfare and social upliftment. Outside of Good Things Guy, she is an avid reader and lover of tea.

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