The Education Ambassadors SA Team caught up with Hilda Chautsane, originating from Sasolburg in the free state, near vaal triangle but currently residing in the Eastern Free State, Qwaqwa. Read her inspiring story below.
I was born and raised from a spiritual, small disadvantaged family which depended on a single parent and that alone has guided me to the person I have become today. I started my schooling and matriculated as one of the well known, talkactive, active, academic and performing learners, which has made memories and a good trend for me. I was a very confident public speaker, also in a very strong debating team during my high school days and that’s where my love for politics developed (I went on to join a political party). After matriculating I studied at the university of the Free – State (Qwaqwa campus) where reality began. It was never easy to study at the university without a bursary or any kind of financial assistance but by the grace of God, my mother’s little salary and investments were able to pay my tuition fees and also feed me. My passion was mainly on studying law but when I got to the university everything changed but I still managed to do politics as it was one of the most interesting activity when I got to the university. I registered for a B.A (General Management) degree and specialised in Industrial Psychology, Marketing, business and financial management which I completed in 2010 and I was already working at the university holding two job titles at the same time, I was a marker and invigilator and also student librarian.
After completing my first degree I then registered at the same university for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education ( further training and development). The first six months after completing my postgraduate, I got a job in a high school as a teacher but I failed to survive or even stand the pressure , I then left the job but two weeks after I left my job I got another job in one of the best performing primary schools in the area and that’s where I started to collect myself back although I worked there less than a year. I was blessed enough to continue my career and worked at Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality as their Human Resource Practitioner and at the other hand I had registered to do my honours in Management Science in Education – specialised in Management n Leadership which I completed in 2014. As you’re reading this, today I’m a Masters student in governance and public policy and all that happened in a very short time that’s why I consider myself highly favored because I’ve never seen it happen when I was still growing up because I’m the only one in my family and extended family who has come this far in terms of qualifications and persuing my education.
There were days when I got up in the morning and things weren’t the way I had hoped they would be, that’s when I had to tell myself that things will get better. I had a lot of challenges that I had to face in my life and changes I had to make. Although it was never easy, but in those times of struggle I had really found a stronger sense of who I am, so when days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, I remembered to believe in myself and all that I wanted my life to be because the challenges and changes were only helping me to find the goals that I know are meant to come true for me. Life has taught me that a more successful person is more observant, thinks more and understands in depth the journey of life. A more successful person sees several years ahead, while you see only tomorrow. The difference between a year and a day is 365 times, how could you conquer?, how far have you seen ahead in your life? And how thoughtful in depth are you? I remember when I left home to start my tertiary education, my mother did’nt say much of advises but she gave only two lines which then didn’t sit well with me.
She said to me: “Ausi o tlohele ho phapha” [Lady, stop being so forward] and I got really angry and hurt that why we she choose such words and asked myself, am I that too much?, then wen we got to the university
before she left back home she gave me some strong words: “Ausi o kgethe bakgotsi” [Choose your friends wisely] and all those words didn’t bring any joy then to me, but trust me they have inspired, guided and taught me alot. The right kind of friends are meant to inspire you and strive to help you to be a better person. Choosing to associate with people in the same journey as you, helps you to reach your goals.
The purpose of the story of my life is to let those of you out there feeling down and lost that my backgorund was not all bright and great. Some of the things which happened in my childhood seemed horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection I found that without overcoming those
obstacles I wiil never realise my full potential, strength, willpower and greatness out of me. My all time biblical verse is Isiah 60 v 1 “arise and shine Jerusalem for your light has come and the glory of God has risen upon you”.
I treat myself valuable. I often tell students and other people that I would be willing to pay today for a percentage of the future earnings of good students and If you really value and invest in yourself, you will be worth a great deal through out your lifetime, both to yourself and to your community as I was never raised only by my single parent but also by the neighbours and the entire community, it truly takes a community to raise a child. I go out there and everywhere with faith to learn everything with focus, hope and great belief of positive results.
To youth and everyone out there my advice to you is live as if you were to die tomorrow and learn as
if you were to live forever because education truly is the most powerful weapon
which you can use to change the world.
Facebook: Hilda Cushy
Email: ladyh@tsamail.co.za
Thank you so much for sharing your story with the Education Ambassadors SA family, Hilda. You have indeed come a long way and your life story is inspirational to all of us. May God continue to bless your life. You’re highly favoured of God.
If you would also like to see your educational story published in our blog, email it to: info@educationambassadors.org.za
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