Student Returns To Complete Degree After Losing Father To Cancer

When Cassandra Du Plessis deferred her studies after her father was diagnosed with cancer, she was just months away from completing her IIE Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design at The Vega School at Emeris uMhlanga.

Putting her studies on hold in 2022 was not an easy decision, but she wanted to be there for her parents during one of the most difficult periods of their lives. Her father passed away a few months later.

Just over a year later, Du Plessis returned to complete her studies and recently graduated as part of The Independent Institute of Education's (The IIE) Class of 2025. Du Plessis was one of the 171 The Vega School at Emeris uMhlanga students, including 21 students from The Vega School at Emeris Online Centre, who graduated Class of 2025.

Originally from Johannesburg, Du Plessis relocated to KwaZulu-Natal with her parents when they decided to retire here. Having previously completed a short course in Interior Design, she enrolled for the IIE Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design to further develop her knowledge and skills.

Du Plessis said that there was a great deal to reflect on. She began her journey into tertiary education in 2020. A month later, South Africa went into the COVID-19 hard lockdown, which resulted in online lectures. In 2021, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) was impacted by widespread unrest after the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma. In 2022, during her final year of study, her father was diagnosed with cancer.

“After losing my dad, returning to complete my tertiary studies wasn’t just about a degree, it was about honouring the man who taught me that growth lives in the hard moments, not just the good ones,” said Du Plessis.

“There were times I wanted to quit, moments when grief made everything feel impossible, but I kept coming back to what he showed me: that consistency and working hard for the things you love is never wasted. I was proud of myself and it felt good to have this celebration”.

Du Plessis said she is most proud of her perseverance. 

“Getting through the COVID-19 pandemic, the KZN riots, losing my Dad and still being able to complete my studies and graduate showed me that, despite how hard life can be, if I put my mind to something, I can do it.”

She credits her family for helping her through the most difficult times.

“My Dad had always supported me and encouraged me to do the things I enjoyed and that made me happy. I really wanted to complete my studies so that I could acknowledge his support and the support of my family and be able to say that I did it.”

Du Plessis and her mother returned to Johannesburg shortly after graduation and she is now looking forward to establishing herself in the world of work.

“After completing my degree, I feel like age is not a limit when it comes to how you want to apply yourself and learn in the world,” she said.

Her advice to students facing their own challenges is simple: “Just breathe and remember that you can do this”.

"Cassandra's journey demonstrates that there is no single path to success. Her determination to return and complete her qualification after experiencing significant personal loss is something we are incredibly proud of," said Fiona Suleman (Student Relations Specialist at The Vega School at Emeris uMhlanga).