The Commerce Academic Development Programme (CADP) is graduating 38 students this week, some having done very well.

The CADP programme is for students who obtained high-school marks that would not allow them to enter mainstream courses at the university. Students in the programme, which runs over four years instead of the normal three, work together, share resources and are supported with a range of extra courses.

Many of the students have faced considerable challenges to get where they are. They come from under-resourced rural schools; have studied for their degree in English, a second language; and experienced economic hardships and personal deprivation. The Monday Paper spoke to three of them.

Dimakatso Morebudi, who finshed his BCom degree in information systems, received an award for most promising student from a disadvantaged background.

Background
DMac, as many people call him, attended DA Mokoma High School in Mabopane in Tshwane.

Why join the programme?
I realised that I was disadvantaged by my school system, which did not offer mathematics higher grade and computer science, meaning I did not qualify for courses I wanted to do.

How did you feel about coming to UCT and how was it?
Coming to UCT was like an overseas trip for me as it was the first time I had to stay far from home. I had no expectations but a willingness to learn and make the most of my stay. I adapted very quickly because I like being involved and I got to meet people because of my talkative nature.

What helped you to do so well?
I never pressured myself to excel but I was learning. I had the right attitude and I concentrated on the right things. I knew when and how to learn. I took every challenge as a blessing.

Sapho Gwadiso, who finished his BCom degree in accounting, completed the programme in three years, with a distinction in financial accounting (second in the subject in the faculty) and is on the Dean's Merit list.

Background
I passed my Grade 12 at Ndabankulu Senior Secondary School outside Butterworth in the Eastern Cape.

Why join the programme?
I am part of the Thuthuka Programme, which requires that all its students at UCT be part of the CADP.

How did you feel about coming to UCT and how was it?
I set myself personal minimum marks for each course. My biggest challenge was essay-writing. I lacked confidence and understanding of English, and as a result, I struggled to write essays throughout the first and second years. After many sessions in essay-writing provided by CADP, I now enjoy writing.

What helped you to do well?
We had regular meetings and my class (of Thuthuka students) became very close as a result of being part of CADP. For all of this year I was working with my girlfriend, who successfully converted from the four-year programme to the three-year degree. We pushed each other to work hard and we both did well.

Sibahle Mazwi, who finished her BCom in information systems.

Background
I went to Hexagon High School in the Eastern Cape town of Queenstown. Why did you join the programme? I was not accepted in the mainstream courses, then I went to CADP.

How did you feel about coming to UCT and how was it?
I was so happy about coming to UCT and my family was proud of me. It was not easy to adapt at first because of the big environment. The language was also a problem. Everyone was speaking English, and I was not used to it as I'm from a rural area.

What helped you to do well?
At CADP we were like a family and the co-ordinator [June Pym] as so supportive that she made me feel at home. There were a lot of opportunities to interact with each other so that we could develop communication skills. There was also support for English, and they arranged workshops and mentoring exercises for all courses.