Tamryn Christians faced many challenges throughout her high school and tertiary career, including being evicted from their home, but the young woman says pursuing her dream despite the odds was always her goal.
Christians (25) was among hundreds of graduates last week who obtained her National Diploma in Journalism from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
The university held its autumn graduation ceremony at the Bellville campus for the first time in two years following the Covid-19 pandemic.
But the road which led her to the podium on Tuesday 19 April was bumpy and full of heartache.
Christians, who is the middle child of three children, says her matric year was one of her hardest yet as her family was evicted from their Mitchell’s Plain home.
She ended up rotating between homes of her high school teachers.
In 2015 she applied to study journalism at CPUT’s District Six campus but did not make the cut and was placed on the waiting list.
But a determined Christians did not give up.
“I worked at retail stores during this period to help my mom financially. I was so desperate to study journalism that I applied to do a short course at CPUT. At the time we didn’t have money for me to travel to class at night. One evening I only had enough money to travel to town and had no way to get back home.”
She continues: “I told myself if I don’t find a way back, I will sleep in town, but I wanted to attend class. When I arrived at class a few minutes late, I sat next to a lady and randomly she asked if anybody needed a lift home to Mitchell’s Plain and that’s how I started attending the classes.”
She explains that due to circumstances she was unable to complete the short course and had to drop out.
“I told myself I will apply again, and I will not give up. I have wanted to pursue a career in journalism since Grade 8. In 2016 I applied to study journalism again and got in.”
She passed her first year of studies but had trouble in her second year.
“We were struggling again. For the majority of the time, there was no income. We moved around quite often, but going to church is what kept my faith grounded.”
She explains that in her second year she reached out to Independent Media for a possible internship and was accepted.
“I only received a travelling allowance. But the pressure was mounting, and I failed one of my subjects. I returned the following year, and by then, I had secured a contract job at African News Agency. The team there did their best to support me on my journey, but the pressure was too much.”
She explains that in 2019 she decided to drop out of university.
“I dropped out. I felt so defeated. I thought that graduating or obtaining any sort of qualification was just not for me.”
However, a year later, she realised she needed to return to her studies.
“A family member offered me a place to stay because I was basically homeless. I did my second year in 2020 again and passed.”
Christians completed her third year last year. She encourages young people to pursue their dreams and not quit.
“I’d like to encourage everyone who is on the brink of giving up, to keep pushing. You may think that something is not for you when it doesn’t happen when you expect it to happen. But it will happen if it is destined to. Don’t become distracted by what everyone else is achieving around you. You have your own God ordained timeline. Focus on yourself and where you need to be. Pray about it, consult with God.”
An elated Christians says even though it took her six years to graduate she is proud to “break a generational curse in my family”.
“It’s been six years. Witnessing other people graduating before me every time was hard. I was happy for them, but at the same time I thought ‘that could’ve been me’. When I walked onto that stage, I wanted to shed a tear. It felt like I finally conquered something, finally my perseverance has paid off.”
Christians says her biggest motivators was her support structure.
“My faith and being surrounded by leaders at my church helped me get through my struggles, the support from my boyfriend and family carried me through my hardship. I am thankful to everyone. My parents didn’t have a lot, but they gave me what they could.”
Dorothea, Tamryn’s mom, says she is proud of her daughter.
“It wasn’t an easy road. There were times we had nothing, but Tamryn never gave up. I always encourage my children to pray and not give up. As her mother words cannot describe how proud I feel. I can only thank God.”
Christians, who is currently a freelance videographer and photographer and who does public relations for a political party, says she hopes to one day work at a media company as a reporter. But for now, she is taking a break from studies and enjoying the fruits of her labour.
