Walking the stage at IIE-Vega Pretoria’s recent graduation ceremony to accept her IIE Bachelor of Arts Honours in Interior Design degree was a bittersweet moment for Thobile Mdlalose. Her mum, her biggest supporter, passed away before Mdlalose began her studies. Despite the heartbreak, Mdlalose persevered and completed her qualification with three distinctions out of five modules.
Mdlalose was one of the 187 graduates – including 26 students from IIE Vega’s Online Centre – who graduated through the Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). IIE-Vega is an education brand of The IIE.
“When I graduated with my Honours, it felt more like, ‘At least I’ve done it. I have the paper,’ because the person I did it for wasn’t there to see me graduate. I still felt proud of myself, especially considering what I went through to get there,” Mdlalose explained.
Recalling how she coped during her studies, she said: “It was difficult at times.
Thobile Mdlalose (pictured) proudly accepted her IIE Bachelor of Arts Honours in Interior Design degree at IIE-Vega Pretoria’s recent graduation ceremony. It was a milestone she reached through strength, resilience and in honour of her late mum.
I had anxiety attacks because there was no one to talk to about my struggles. I felt alone at times, but I got through it because I promised myself to push through no matter what. I also attended classes at church, which helped me to deal with my grief and anxiety. That support helped made things a little easier to carry.”
While studying towards her Honours, Mdlalose’s laptop stopped working. Sadé Miles (Student Relations Navigator at IIE-Vega Pretoria) said Mdlalose showed great dedication by using the campus library daily to meet her deadlines.
When asked what kept her motivated during those difficult moments, Mdlalose said: “Honestly, I just don’t like starting something and not finishing it. I’ve had laptop issues before and I have overcome that obstacle multiple times. So, I wasn’t going to let a laptop issue keep me from completing my Honours. I had already come too far to give up.
I also have the best group of friends - we supported each other, went to the library together and it was always a joy to go to school. It kept me motivated and helped me to show up to class even on the tough days.”
Reflecting on her time at IIE-Vega Pretoria, Mdlalose said she’s most proud, despite everything, of finishing her studies in record time. “I stayed committed and I didn’t let the hardships define me. I was able to succeed academically because I asked for help from the lecturers when I needed to and I tried to stay organised. Having a structure helped me stay on track”.
She’s currently working as an Interior Designer at an interior design company, with plans to study towards a project management qualification, start her own interior design business and possibly pursue architecture. “I studied interior design particularly because I saw it as a gateway to architecture, but I also fell in love because it was more creative and it gave me space to bring in my love of art, which I’ve had since childhood. I chose IIE-Vega Pretoria due to its smaller classes. I felt it would be easier to connect with the lecturers compared to larger institutions”.
Mdlalose is also passionate about using design to uplift communities and hopes to one day establish a non-profit organisation that will support architecture and infrastructure across southern Africa.
Her advice to students going through hard times or considering studying through IIE-Vega? “Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Make use of the resources provided, they really do help. Also, have fun. In a creative industry, it’s important to enjoy the process and not take yourself too seriously”.