The Start Does Not Determine the Finish: Colien has mastered it!
For Faculty Officer Ms Colien Biwa, earning a Master’s degree once seemed almost unimaginable. Born and raised in Lüderitz by a single mother, Colien learnt early to work hard for what she wanted and, above all, never to give up. Her educational journey, however, was far from straightforward.
There was a time when simply completing Standard 10, as the final year of school was known back then, “felt like a big enough dream”. Colien returned to complete high school, refusing to believe that starting over meant it was ‘too late’.
Colien Biwa.
In May 2008, she joined NUST as an Examination Officer. Being surrounded by students pursuing qualifications prompted Colien to consider how much further she could take her own education. “I began asking myself, ‘If they can do it, why can’t I?’”
The Master’s, however, took some convincing. Colien recalls a Professor challenging her about refusing to pursue it, an encounter that forced her to confront her own hesitation. “I decided that fear would not determine how far I could go,” she said.
As a NUST staff member, Colien was able to benefit from the University’s staff study opportunities to pursue her Master of Management while continuing to work full-time – an investment in staff development that has enabled her to grow both academically and professionally.
But it was by no means an easy road. The qualification was earned alongside the many other hats she wears. Colien balanced her studies with work, marriage, motherhood and service in church, navigating late nights, early mornings, deadlines, exhaustion and moments of doubt along the way.
On Friday, that journey culminates crossing the NUST graduation stage to receive her Master of Management. “This Master’s degree means far more to me than a qualification. It represents every obstacle I overcame, every sacrifice, every prayer, every tear, and every moment when I chose to continue despite being tired, afraid, or uncertain.”
The achievement also honours her mother, whose sacrifices and resilience shaped the woman she became, while showing her own children and family that success does not always follow a straight path. For Colien, that is perhaps the greatest lesson.
Asked what her message would be to those who wonder whether their own opportunity has passed, she said: “Do not allow your circumstances, your age, your responsibilities, or your fear to convince you that it is too late.”
Colien Biwa.
Colien’s path is a reminder that where you start does not determine where you finish. “When I think about the girl who once simply wanted to complete Standard 10, I know she could never have imagined that one day she would hold a Master’s degree. But God knew. To Him be the glory, great things He has done!”
