Owami Ngqono, a 19-year-old agricultural economics student from Butterworth, is set to become the youngest graduate at the University of Fort Hare’s Autumn Graduation this week.
Ngqono attributes her passion for agriculture to the dedicated teachers she had in high school.
She will be among hundreds of students to be conferred Bachelor of Agriculture in Economics.
Her mom, whom she described as one of the people who fuelled her academic journey, will also be walking across the stage at Walter Sisulu University to collect her Diploma in Accountancy in May.
The student, who is now pursuing her honours, began her academic journey at the university when she was merely 16.
She said her love for agriculture kicked in at Lampough High School.
Ngqono obtained three matric distinctions in Agricultural Science, Maths Literacy, and isiXhosa.
“I’m extremely excited and feel great, but I’m currently busy with my academics so I have mixed emotions in-between.”
She started primary school at the age of five.
Ngqono said being the youngest in classes was not a challenge.
“I did not feel like I was the youngest. I used to think I am just like everyone else in my class,” she said.
She said after she was introduced to agriculture as a subject, she realised she’d found her passion.
“I knew nothing about it. Fortunately, I met a teacher who had a passion for agriculture. I was a top learner in grade 10.
“In grade 11, I had another passionate teacher who also believed in me. They are the ones who instilled a love of agriculture in me.
“When I went to varsity it was not like the high school agriculture I knew. We went deeper into it,” she said.
Even though varsity was smooth sailing, Ngqono said being away from home was a challenge.
“It was overwhelming. I was excited about going to study away from home, but when I got to experience it, I felt so overwhelmed.
“I missed my mom and had to build new friendships from scratch. It was a bit different to high school, but I managed.”
Ngqono attributed her success to everyone who supported her.
“My grandparents, mom, aunt and high school agricultural teachers backed my dream.
“I grew up in a home where agriculture was practised, but I was not part of it.
“I was young and didn’t have much time to pay attention, but at school I became curious,” she said.
Her advice to young people who dream of studying further is to choose a career you love.
“The most important thing is passion.
“Research what you want to do.
“Things do get hard but patience, persistence and having a positive mindset is key.”
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