I met Ingiphile Masuku in 2017 as a student at the University of Mpumalanga and after a year we became the best of friends. She has always been my source of inspiration as I have been there to witness how resilient and hardworking she is. This interview was aimed at getting to know her and her life experiences better, especially the struggles of being a young person transitioning from school into the real world.

If you were given 15 seconds to tell your life story, how would you go about it?

I am a 24-year-old young and hardworking individual who is always ready to learn new things. Growing up, I stayed with my grandparents in Middelplaas which is located in Nkomazi. After I matriculated, I went on to study BSc in Agriculture at the University of Mpumalanga. Currently, I am working at a chicken breeder farm.

What did you want to be when you were younger and who was your source of inspiration?

When I was younger I wished to be a forensic scientist but realised that I was not passionate about it so I changed my mind and decided that a career in the agricultural sector would be a great fit for me.

My source of inspiration is my mother because despite everything that she has faced and experienced, she managed to pull through and be at the top. This was done through dedication and hard work. Whenever I am in doubt, I recall my favourite quote by Audrey Hepburn which states that “Nothing is impossible” because I have learnt that through hard work, dedication and a good support system, I can actually do what I put my mind to. Basically, I am also my own source of inspiration as I have pushed myself thus far.

Do you think high school prepares learners for what comes after matric?

I don’t believe that high school prepares learners for the real world. There’s actually a huge gap between the two. In high school they only provide theoretical knowledge and little practical experience. They need to teach them and also show them exactly what they are teaching them. For example in agriculture they should take learners to farms for field trips or they can start their own garden in the school. Learners should be given more practical experiences in their field of study because the real world wants experience more than theory. This will also help the learner to choose a career that is suitable for them after they have experienced what happens in each subject they are being taught.

How was your transition from high school to university and how would you describe the university experience?

My transition from high school to university was difficult. I had to move away from the environment, people and friends that I was used to. There are people I know who went to varsity and described it as a straightforward journey but when I got to UMP, there was a huge difference between what I was told and the reality I faced. They made it seem like university was a bed of roses and streets of gold whilst it was actually nightmarish for me.

The way they taught in high school versus in university was different from what I was used to because I felt like they were spoon-feeding me in high school as compared to varsity where I had to learn things on my own. In my first year I had difficulty finding lecture halls and relevant textbooks at the library. We spent long hours in lecture halls which really made it hard for some students to grasp most of the information during lectures. University did teach me independence more than anything which I am grateful for since that is an experience which has prepared me for life after varsity.

How has life been after university?

Life after university has been tough because I have gone from job hunting with no success to starting a small business which failed due to lack of experience and exposure. Then I had to settle for jobs that only needed matric which have consumed my time leaving me with little to no room to further my studies. It has also been difficult to get a job in the field I studied in.

What advice can you give to young people who are still in high school?

These days it is really difficult to advise people on what they should do after school because they want to follow their passions which have fewer job opportunities. However, I can advise them to pursue courses which will enable them to create businesses instead of relying on jobs from already-established institutions.

This piece was written as part of the Fundza Fellowship Programme.