Kraaifontein mom of three, Lancia Coetzee, 48, has passed her matric exam with flying colours.
Lancia went with her son Jeninio, 21, to Northlink College in Bellville to apply for him to study Tourism and then had a “crazy thought” to sign herself up for matric.
“I was with him at Northlink for his application and as we waited, I asked the consultant if I could also apply. I just decided on the spot,” she said.
Mom and son both started in 2017 and it took Lancia three years to obtain her matric certificate.
Lancia says the programme manager told her it would be tough because of her age but she pursued her dream.
Lancia worked as a cleaner at GF Jooste Hospital seven years ago where, travelling by train at 5am to Manenberg daily, but left her job when her 87-year-old father had a stroke to take care of him.
“My mother is 73 and needed help with my dad. When he got better, I felt the need to equip myself to find new work but then I got bitten by the learning bug and went that way.”
Meanwhile Lancia, who dropped out in Grade 10, also received a bursary to complete her Level 4 Hospitality course.
The excited mom says: “It’s a feeling I can’t explain. I want to cry and at the same time I want to shout from a rooftop.
“To think I almost quit due to personal problems but through it all, I made it. Hard work and determination kept me going.”