#ThankfulTuesday: From car guard to assistant engineering lecturer
Never judge a book by its cover...
The truth of the matter is that if you really want something, you have to put in the time and the effort to achieve it.
And if you are one of those people who says they don't have the time, then sadly you will never achieve your goals.
Because, ultimately, you have to make the time if you truly desire something... and if it means something to you, you will find the time.
This former car guard (Fabrice Kapya) is a real-life example of how using your time well can translate into achieving your dreams.
After fleeing the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2018 with a degree in Chemical Engineering, he arrived in South Africa seeking asylum with no prospects except to further his studies.
And so his journey as a car guard began at Wonderpark Shopping Centre, Pretoria, where he earned roughly R2,000 a month. This is after standing in the parking lot from 7am to 8pm.
After expenses, his money was dedicated to his studies. He describes his admittance into the University of Pretoria as a miracle.
And as time passed, he found difficulty in paying his fees, due to the fact that he had to attend lectures and also work as a car guard.
According to News24, Kapya said: "I used every single coin I earned at Wonderpark mall to pay for my studies. I was studying in the parking lot with my student card around my neck. I stayed strong even though I could not feel my legs or my waist, even though my body was sore."
It seems his dedication to stay on track with achieving his goals brought him some good fortune when a donor had parked her car in his area as a car guard.
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She helped him out with paying R18,000 towards his studies.
We love what he shared with the News24 team, it is both inspiring and realistic. It's a definite reminder that if you stay the course, things will work out some way or the other...
"I used a tough situation to remind myself that I was strong enough, that I was smart enough to pass a module and that I was disciplined enough to complete my course. I couldn't change the fact that I didn't have money when I came to UP, but I accepted that reality instead of living in denial. I welcomed the challenge and set myself a goal."
Image Courtesy of Facebook