Bachelor of Commerce graduate Mr Dean Adams says being awarded his degree summa cum laude is payback in part for his parents who supported him and his twin brother, Dale, who is in his last year of a Law degree through thick and thin.

Adams, who aims to become a Chartered Accountant, said his mother, Evet being in housekeeping and his father, Moses, a small business owner, means that finances are tight.

However, the burden of putting two children through university at the same time was made lighter when Adams was awarded a scholarship.

Adams was ranked among the top five UKZN undergraduates proceeding from the first year to second-year study in 2016 which earned him the Malegapuru William Makgoba Scholarship and a bursary from Nedbank.

‘I was the first one in my family to get accepted into a university and that was a life-changing moment for me,’ said Adams. ‘One of the major challenges was finding the money to pay my fees because my parents were not in a position to foot the entire bill,’ said Adams.

‘I was fortunate to be awarded the scholarship and the bursary as it lessened the financial burden on my parents whose love and support have shaped me since my childhood. I will now ensure we all have better lives,’ he added.

Currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, Adams looks forward to serving his articles at Deloitte and ultimately earning the letters CA (SA) behind his name.

‘I enjoy applying myself in a way that can solve challenges and problems – this is what led me to pursue Chartered Accountancy. Business affects everybody, in either a positive or negative way, and I would like to make an impact on people’s lives in a positive way. Becoming a Chartered Accountant will give me the opportunity to do that,’ he said.

Words: Thandiwe Jumo