Fortunate Tshabalala – well on her way with Eduloan

Fortunate Tshabalala received a bursary from Eduloan in 2011 and 2012. A second-year student studying a BA in Geography at the University of Johannesburg, we wanted to catch up with Fortunate and find out how she’s doing with her studies.

We hear that you got excellent Matric results in 2010 – how would you compare school life to university? How are the studies going?

Yes, I got good results in Matric. I’m in second year now and the workload is quite a lot more than it was in High School. The work is challenging, it’s hard but not impossible to do. It’s definitely a lot more challenging! The standard of work that you have to deliver is also of a higher quality. I enjoy my studies and I also enjoy the challenge.

Why did you decide to study Geography & what do you hope to do with it in your career?

I’ve always had a love for Geography; since I was small I loved it. When I was in High School I decided that I wouldn’t be studying anything other than Geography. When I’m done with my degree I actually want to pursue a PHD. I aim to become a GI Specialist (Geographic Information Systems/Science).

How did you end up getting a bursary from Eduloan?

I got the bursary from Eduloan because I was the top performer in Matric. The headmaster of my high school contacted Eduloan and they came to meet me. The rest is history… Eduloan takes care of everything I need, from books, accommodation and all the fees involved with studying. It’s great not having to worry about it.

What advice would you give to the learners who are matriculating this year and hoping to study further next year?

Well my advice to all students is to work hard and stop procrastinating. That’s a really important point, stop procrastinating! If you start preparing for your exams now, then you won’t be at a loss for time. Time will be on your side and you can adequately prepare yourself for the challenges that lie ahead. Choosing a career path should be based on doing something that you love.