Hanging her school uniform up for the last time at the end of Grade Five, Ellen Prinsloo, of Benoni, wanted nothing more than to take a seat behind a school desk again.
Bouncing between schools from Mpumalanga to Kwa-Zulu Natal, Ellen’s father pulled the plug on her and her three brothers’ schooling as it became increasingly difficult for the single father to continuously enrol the four in school amid his ever-changing work commitments.
“My dad did extended contract work. With us often moving, education and the mountains of paperwork to have us transferred and enrolled at various schools soon took its toll and he decided to keep us home,” said Ellen.
“I was 11 with only a Grade Five. I became increasingly depressed because I truly enjoyed school and loved learning.”
Desperate not to stagnate, Ellen immersed herself in music, dissecting lyrics and even dabbling in writing her own songs.
“Music was my lifeline; it kept me grounded when all I wanted to do was sink into nothingness,” Ellen said.
“Just shy of my 16th birthday, I started working as a waitron. I was uneducated and the possibilities of achieving more became increasingly illusive.”
When she was not working, Ellen completed various online courses, only to find upon completion, that some were not accredited.
“I was devastated when I realised that the pieces of paper I attained through these courses were, in fact, useless. But the process of learning ignited a fire within me.”
With guidance from her oldest brother, Ellen finally attained her amended senior certificate at the age 25, shortly after her father’s death.
“Holding that certificate in my hands was probably the most empowering moment of my life,” Ellen said.
“I missed out on having school friends, participating in sport days and even a matric farewell, but that paper was the gateway to the rest of my life. Suddenly I was in control of my destiny.”
It would take Ellen another two years of endless motivations before she realised her dream of enrolling as a student at Unisa, studying towards a degree in Industrial Psychology.
She graduated on March 29, passing 23 modules out of 30 with distinction.
Ellen further holds two diplomas in accounting and management.
“I have acquired R100 000 in student loan debt, however this journey has taught me a great deal,” she said.
“Although many will judge my father, his choices brought me to this point, it made me hungry to learn and to work hard for what I really wanted.
“Most importantly, it has taught me that through knowledge and education, you can make the difference in the lives of others.”
With news that she has not only been accepted to continue with her honours studies but will be receiving a bursary to study at Unisa, Ellen beams as she plans for the future.
“Throughout my life, I witnessed how my dad was often overlooked or mistreated as an employee due to lack of leadership within HR departments,” she said.
“I hope to become part of an HR solution which will motivate and mould workers into well-balanced employees to the betterment of their various industries as well their personal achievements.”
With the next leg of her educational journey kicking off at the time of her 31st birthday, Ellen is trying desperately to snuff out her debt in order to launch into this new chapter of her life with a clean slate.
“When I am not working I have my nose firmly in my books. Despite this, my husband has stood by me for nine years, encouraging and motivating me,” she said.
“We dream of starting a family once I have completed my honours and paid off all the student loans.”
Ellen has established a BackaBuddy profile in hopes of easing the financial burden of her studies.
If you would like to know more or assist Ellen in any way, go to https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/ellen-prinsloo.
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