Hayli September, a Stellenbosch University (SU) master’s student, may not have entered higher education in the way she thought she would. Yet the SciMathUS university preparation programme helped her find her stride, and today, Hayli is a proud Stellenbosch postgraduate.
SciMathUS affords high-school learners who have passed Grade 12, but did not manage to qualify for higher education selection, a second opportunity to improve their National Senior Certificate (NSC) results in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Accounting. This, in turn, enables them to reapply for university programmes.
“I matriculated in 2015, but unfortunately, my Mathematics and Physical Sciences marks weren’t good enough to study Mechanical Engineering at SU, which had been my dream for years,” Haily explains. “This was devastating, but luckily, I was accepted to study Theology, although this was not my first choice. A week before classes were supposed to start, the lady who was assisting me at the SU bursary office suggested I try SciMathUS. Even though the application deadline had passed, I still applied and was put on the waiting list. By the grace of God, I was granted the opportunity to join the SciMathUS class of 2016.”
By taking part in the year-long programme, she not only improved her Mathematics and Physical Sciences marks, but could also sample campus life and learn about the other amazing programmes the University had to offer. Haily fell in love with the art of winemaking and viticulture after attending an SU Open Day with SciMathUS. She applied and was accepted for the programme BSc in Viticulture and Oenology in 2017. In addition, she managed to secure a bursary from an international agricultural company. “This time, I was ready and fully equipped to embark on my new adventure,” she says.
She has gone from strength to strength ever since, even scooping a Future of Wine 2021 award along with her fellow students for producing “an all-inclusive app that allows wine lovers to find wines based on their preferences”. Haily is currently studying towards her master’s in Oenology at SU. “Since 2018, I have had the opportunity to be mentored by Carmen Stevens, who was the first black person to graduate as a winemaker in South Africa. She has truly moulded and inspired me, and I was fortunate to be able to complete an internship at her winery during my fourth year in 2021.
“In the future, I hope to join forces with Carmen to broaden my knowledge and experience in winemaking. Eventually, I would like to start my own brand and show young boys and girls of colour who are interested in this career path that your circumstances do not define your destination and that you are capable of everything you set your mind to.”
Originally from the West Coast town of Saldanha, Haily grew up in trying circumstances in an “unconventional household”. She credits her mother as her main motivator and says her family has always supported her fully in everything she does. “My parents weren’t perfect, but they did what they had to so that my siblings and I would succeed and grow into respectable people,” she says. “I am grateful for my upbringing, both the good and the bad, and I would not change anything I have gone through. It has made me the resilient, strong, independent and optimistic person I am today.”
