From Bedridden to Cap and Gown
… Leila’s Inspiring Journey
There was a time when it seemed almost impossible for Leila Muxinga to reach this moment. Battling a chronic illness, enduring a stroke, and facing obstacles that would have broken the spirit of many, Leila’s dream of graduating from NUST felt distant—perhaps even out of reach. Yet, on 10 October 2025, she walked across the graduation stage, proving that buoyancy can turn impossibility into triumph.
Leila, in her early 30s and raised in Swakopmund by her single mother, was diagnosed in 2010 with Systemic Lupus Erthematosus (SLE), a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks healthy tissues and organs. Ten years later, in 2020, her health challenges intensified when she suffered a stroke, leaving her bedridden for two months and struggling with vision and memory difficulties. Living with an “invisible illness” meant her daily battles were often unseen by others. But through each flare, setback, and recovery, she discovered a deeper strength within herself.
“Faith, family, and community carried me,” Leila reflects. Her relationship with God gave her hope, while her mother and loved ones became her anchor. A lupus support group further reminded her that she was never walking alone. At NUST, lecturers granted flexibility, classmates shared notes, and the institution provided the compassion and adjustments she needed to keep learning. For Leila, asking for help became a sign of strength, not weakness.
Choosing to pursue Human Resources Management was never by chance. Her passion for people guided her path, even when her health made progress uncertain. “People are the most important part of any organisation,” she says. “I wanted to support and develop others.” Today, that same passion has carried her to the finish line.
Graduation for Leila was far more than an academic milestone. “It was proof of survival, perseverance, and faith,” she says. Wearing her gown did not only represent years of lectures and exams but also her journey of buoyancy against staggering odds.
Her achievement is all the more special as it coincides with NUST’s 10-year anniversary—a decade that marks both institutional growth and her personal triumph. “It feels like a double celebration,” she smiles. “NUST has grown over the past decade, and so have I.”
In a year where the University celebrates “A Decade of Eminence: Celebrating Education, Science and Technology for Development,” Leila’s story embodies the very spirit of perseverance, transformation, and hope. Against all odds, she has risen—stronger, braver, and ready for the future.
