Rorisang’s Long Road to Graduation Proves Dreams Are Worth Fighting For

Photo Credit: Central University of Technology, Free State via Facebook

Despite what society often tells us, setbacks can still lead to success. After a five-year journey of overcoming academic and financial obstacles and taking on delivery jobs to fund a dream he refused to abandon, Rorisang Mangole finally got to walk across the graduation stage.

Welkom, South Africa (10 September 2026) – In a world that so often presents success as a straight path with fixed timelines, it can be easy to feel discouraged when we do not reach our goals as quickly as we hoped, or when challenges and setbacks lead us onto unexpected detours.

Whether it is working towards a promotion, passing through grades at school, or trying to secure something meaningful for the future, there is often an obvious, or not-so-obvious, path we feel we should follow to reach what we are striving for, and by a certain time.

But as many people will tell you, life does not always work that way. But that is no reason to give up or doubt yourself.

Originally from Mahikeng in the North-West, Rorisang Oikantswe Mangole joined the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) Welkom Campus in 2021. However, as life would have it, his journey to graduation took far longer than he had anticipated.

He had to repeat his second year in 2022 after a strike at the university disrupted the academic programme. Adding to the setback, Rorisang also had an outstanding module, which further delayed his progress and extended his time at the university.

“It was tough,” reflected an emotional Rorisang.

His academic struggles were compounded by financial difficulties. In 2025, he lost his National Student Financial Aid Scheme funding completely, following an earlier funding setback in 2023.

All this could have easily led Rorisang to lose hope and give up on his IT studies altogether. But he did not. Still holding onto his dream and realising he needed a different plan to fund it, Rorisang turned to delivery work, taking jobs with leading grocery and food delivery services.

According to CUT, the flexibility of the work allowed him to earn an income while keeping up with his academic commitments and covering his everyday expenses.

“I needed a way to make some money on the side to help with my everyday necessities, and at that point, delivering was one of the easiest and most flexible ways for me to do that,” he shared.

There were many late nights when he returned from work exhausted, only to sit down again to study or complete assignments. At times, the pressure became overwhelming, and he questioned whether he could continue.

Balancing work and academics was not always easy, but his perseverance paid off. After a journey of five years and one semester, Rorisang finally graduated with a Diploma in Information Technology during CUT’s 2026 Spring Graduation!

With his hard-earned qualification in hand, Rorisang said he was proud of how far he had come. CUT commended his achievement, noting that his graduation stands as a testament to the determination it took to overcome financial setbacks, academic delays and personal sacrifices.

Having reached this milestone alongside his younger sister, Rorisang now looks ahead to a future shaped by the same resilience that carried him through his academic journey.