Growing up in a small town in Witbank, Mpumalanga, Geraldine developed an interest in IT. However, people often said she couldn’t do it because she is a girl and must choose another field of interest.
“I was discouraged because it's mostly guys who go into IT. People would say, ‘No, you can't do that. You're a girl, you need to pick something else,’” says Geraldine.
Bold thinking secures futures.
While she felt disheartened, Geraldine persevered. After completing Matric, she stumbled upon a female Software Engineer online who works at a popular streaming service provider. This encounter was decisive for her and wanted to pursue her interest. She chose Eduvos, an institution that would support her every ambition, even if that meant packing her bags and moving from her small town in Witbank to the big city in Gauteng.
Choosing to study at the Eduvos Midrand campus was a no-brainer. “The cool thing about Eduvos is that they put a list of all your modules on the website so you can go check and see,” says Geraldine. “I saw a lot of stuff that I was interested in and decided to go for it, go in there and study IT.”
Geraldine started her studies at Eduvos during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time where online classes were unfamiliar. “You would expect that with everything being online, there wouldn’t be any structure. But that wasn't the case when I joined Eduvos. Everything was very structured,” she recounts. “If classes were online, we had classes online. If we had an exam online, the exam happened online. There was a lot of discipline.”
From small beginnings to massive triumphs
Studying at Eduvos allowed Geraldine to focus on her studies while maintaining a flexible lifestyle. The Block system, which spreads out modules across the year, helped her concentrate on a few subjects at a time and excel.
“The block system helped a lot. Now you have more time to focus on those 3 modules. Instead of having an entire semester and then, in June, you have to write 6 exams,” says Geraldine.
Throughout her undergraduate journey at Eduvos, Geraldine felt supported by lecturers and staff. The smaller, interactive lectures allowed her to raise questions and work through code with her lecturer and peers, without needing to book consultations after class, which is often the case at public institutions.
Her focus on her modules paid off, and graduating Magna Cum Laude was a dream come true. “Back in high school, I wasn't a top achiever; my marks were average,” says Geraldine. “So graduating Magna Cum Laude at Eduvos felt like a dream. I couldn't believe I actually did it.”
Role models for lifelong motivation
Inspired by other women in tech, Geraldine remains a force to be reckoned with. Recognising her potential, the Vela Trust recently invited her to speak to other students and offer encouragement. She passionately shared her story to inspire others to build brighter futures.
“I looked for female role models in IT and found a Software Developer at Investec on YouTube. I used her as motivation because I kept thinking that if she is at this level right now, I can do it too,” says Geraldine. “I encourage others to find a role model. There will be days when you don't feel like studying. But when you have a role model you will start feeling like I want to get to where this person is.”
After graduating, life came full circle for Geraldine. She now works alongside her role model at Investec. Since entering her graduate programme, she shared that her studies at Eduvos prepared her to excel beyond academics. Being a Vossie is a badge of honour for Geraldine that she wears with pride wherever she goes.
“Everywhere I go, I'm proud to be a Vossie. People see my achievements and feel inspired, often saying they wished they went to Eduvos too,” says Geraldine.
Geraldine’s journey from a small town in Witbank to celebrating massive achievements is a testament to her determination and passion. As she continues to inspire others and break barriers in the tech industry, she proves that daring to dream can lead to incredible success.
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