Unisa alumna continues to break the limits through education

The unstoppable Unisa alumna, Shani Little, has done it again. She recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology in the psychological counselling stream. It is not the first instance that Little defeated the odds of her visual impairment. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences and Social Services from the university's College of Human Sciences in 2021. Her positive attitude, unwavering dedication, and hunger to persistently develop herself through education made it possible for her to achieve her goals.

Shani Little (middle) flanked by her husband Sean and daughter Michel

Little's academic journey at Unisa began in 2001. She says it was difficult to study at the time as the digital age was in its infancy stage in South Africa, impacting the accessibility of the necessary devices for her physical challenge. Affirming that Unisa is accessible even for students with disabilities and affordable and convenient, after dropping out, Little kept visiting the university's website as she was keen to pursue her studies and not focus on the obstacles. She finally went back to university in 2018. She remarks: "I chose to study psychology due to my interest in human behaviour and mental health. Also, having worked as a massage therapist at a life skills clinic that specialised in mental health, when people confided in me, that further inflamed my passion." She adds: "My dream is to touch people's lives, and I am in the process of registering as a specialist wellness counsellor."

Little further lauds Unisa's Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) for ensuring her academic success through access to staff members and assistive devices. ARCSWiD's vision is to become a leading provider of quality services for students with disabilities. Little singles out quality service delivery by the centre's Pintias Nkuna to bridge the communication gap between the students and the printing companies, further ensuring access to learning material. She also appreciates Vukati Ndlovu of the centre for walking the admission and academic journey with her and being responsive and agile in assisting students. "However," she adds: "I urge students to find solutions to problems creatively and ask for assistance when needed."

Little maintains that internal and external motivation keep her going. She explains: "You must tell yourself that irrespective of the challenges, every day is a new day to receive new grace and mercy from God." Additionally, Little reiterates that a support structure is significant in an academic journey and motivates a person to persevere in hardships. Quoting some prominent authors, she says: "Your story of challenges will, one day, be a survival guide for others; so, use your obstacles as advantages." She notes that the freedom to choose thoughts sets human beings free, and she indicates that a negative mentality leads to negative results, while a positive mentality leads to positive results. Little concludes by urging students to plan and manage their time effectively, to prioritise their studies and to make sacrifices to achieve auspicious goals.

Also read: Focusing on the goal, not obstacles (unisa.ac.za)

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* By Nancy Legodi, Acting Programme Manager, Unisa Radio