Happiness Vivian Dludla. Image: Shelley Christians/UWCIt is the 14th of April and Happiness Vivian Dludla crosses the stage at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Her achievement represents far more than academic excellence. It will stand as a testament to discipline and an unbreakable spirit forged through one of the most difficult journeys a student can face.
Dludla achieved a Magna Cum Laude for her BSc in Chemical Sciences. She is currently pursuing her Honours in Chemistry. Behind this achievement lies a story marked by severe illness but unwavering determination.
Her academic journey began with ambition and adjustment. In her first year in 2022, she achieved 65% in an Organic Chemistry test - a moment that became significant not for the mark itself, but for the lesson that followed. Encouraged by her lecturer to focus on continuous improvement, she adopted a mindset of progressing step-by-step, from one milestone to the next.
“I learned that improvement is a process,” she said proudly. “You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to keep moving forward.”
That mindset became critical in 2025 when her health began to deteriorate. Dludla faced a series of debilitating medical challenges, including an ulcer, ovarian cysts, and ultimately a diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia, a condition that causes sharp, often persistent pain along the ribs due to irritated or damaged nerves. As her condition worsened, even basic tasks became difficult, and at times, breathing itself felt like hard work.
Yet, despite pain and repeated hospital visits, her commitment to her studies remained firm.
“I walked into exam venues barely able to stand, but my mind was disciplined. I had trained it not to negotiate with pain,” she said.
During this period, the support of her lecturers and the broader Chemistry department at UWC played a significant role in her journey. Their encouragement and care provided reassurance during some of her most difficult moments.
“When I returned from the hospital, I expected to feel left behind. Instead, I was welcomed with so much warmth. That’s when I realised I’m not just a student here, I have a family.”
Even during periods of isolation and intense discomfort, Dludla remained focused on her studies. Chemistry, from reaction mechanisms (the step-by-step processes that explain how chemical reactions occur) to thermodynamics (the study of energy, heat, and how reactions are driven) to spectroscopy (techniques used to identify substances by analysing how they interact with light), became a source of structure and stability.
Her perseverance paid off. Dludla not only completed her degree but excelled, graduating with Magna Cum Laude. Her achievement reflects consistent academic growth, discipline and determination under pressure.
“It was discipline under pressure, choosing excellence, even when everything was difficult.”
Dludla has set her sights even higher. “In 2026, I am raising the standard.”
Her next goal is clear: Summa Cum Laude this time - not in survival mode, but in strength. Her advice to anyone who feels like giving up: “Your situation may not change overnight. Your pain may not disappear immediately. People may doubt you. But your persistence, your discipline, your decision to rise again - these can change everything”.
