Mpumelelo Khumalo
With an excellent high school graduation result and full of confidence, began Mpumelelo Khumalo his studies in Chartered Accountancy at the University of Cape Town in January 2025. During our visit to him in March, we noticed that he seemed somewhat withdrawn. It later became clear that there was a reason for this.
Last year, 2025, was one of the most challenging years of my academically journey. I reached a point where I realised that I had lost my passion and sense of purpose, which made it difficult to see a clear way forward or look forward to anything. Everything felt heavy, and I struggled to find meaning in my academic life.
One of my biggest challenges was my inability to concentrate during classes and find the motivation to continue. This lack of focus affected my performance and confidence. Another major challenge was losing connection with people I cared about. I lost friendships and relationships, and it became very hard to form new ones. Feeling depressed made it difficult to open up, leaving me isolated when support mattered most. I am grateful for the ongoing support and attention YEBO offered me during this time.
Despite these difficulties, there were moments that brought me happiness. I was grateful that I began my journey of getting help, and being back home allowed me to step back, reflect, and reset my life. I was also thankful for the opportunity to continue studying, which reminded me that I had a second chance and my journey was not over. The University suggested to enrol in the second year BCOM Management (instead of Accountancy), and I agree.
This year, I look forward to healing, my studies, and moving forward with purpose.