Melissa Gilbert will not only be celebrating Mother’s Day today, but also a remarkable milestone with her son, Calem, on Tuesday, when they will both graduate summa cum laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Image: Leon Lestrade
A mother and son from Greenwood Park will share a remarkable milestone when they both graduate summa cum laude at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, celebrating not only academic excellence but also a journey of perseverance, faith, and family support.
Melissa Joelene Gilbert, 43, will graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree in Human Resource Management, while her son, Calem Gilbert, 23, will receive his Bachelor of Business Science in Finance.
Melissa will spend Mother's Day today surrounded by her loved ones, sharing lots of laughter and reflecting on their journey.
For Melissa, the achievement represents years of determination and balancing multiple responsibilities.
“Graduating summa cum laude feels incredibly rewarding and humbling. It was thanks to hard work, strong faith, and consistency. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, especially balancing studies with family and work responsibilities, and it reminds me that it’s never too late to pursue excellence,” said Melissa.
Melissa, who works at UKZN as an academic administrative officer for postgraduate studies in the College of Humanities, said sharing the graduation stage with her son makes the moment even more meaningful.
“It’s an incredibly special and emotional moment for both of us. Being able to share such an important milestone makes this achievement even more meaningful.
“As a parent, watching my son succeed while accomplishing my own academic goals alongside him is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life,” said the mother of two.
The pair studied simultaneously throughout the year, often working side-by-side through long nights, deadlines, and demanding schedules.
“Because we are quite close in age, I often felt that we were not only mother and son, but also two people walking the same path together,” said Melissa.
She described evenings spent quietly studying at the same table, each focused on our own assignments and motivating one another through difficult moments.
“Some days I motivated him, and other days he motivated me. What could have been a stressful experience became something deeply meaningful, a journey we shared, supported each other through, and will always remember together,” she said.
Melissa said she had long wanted to continue her studies but had previously put her ambitions on hold due to life’s responsibilities.
“When my son began his honours year, I thought it would be such a meaningful experience for us to go through that journey together. It felt like the right time for me to pursue something I had always wanted for myself, finally.
“I wanted to grow both personally and professionally because education not only opens doors, but also gives you the confidence to embrace new opportunities and challenges. At the same time, I wanted to set an example for my family and show that learning is a lifelong journey,” she said
For now, she plans to take a short break to appreciate her achievement, but hopes to continue her studies and eventually pursue a master’s degree.
For Calem, graduating alongside his mother has been equally significant.
“Graduating is already a major milestone, but being able to share that moment with my mom makes it even more meaningful,” he said.
He credited faith, perseverance, and consistency for his academic success.
“Graduating summa cum laude feels incredibly rewarding and humbling. It reflects the hard work, consistency, faith, and perseverance that went into this journey.”
Calem said studying with his mother created a unique bond between them.
“It never felt like we were walking separate paths. We were experiencing the same pressures, deadlines, and late nights together. Sharing such an important achievement with her is something I will always cherish,” he said.
Calem said there were some days when he encouraged his mom, and other days she encouraged me.
"Over time, what could have been a stressful journey became something meaningful that we shared together as mother and son," he said.
He also recalled lighter moments during their studies, including family prayer sessions before checking Turnitin similarity scores.
“My mom used to stress about her Turnitin scores, so before checking them she would call the whole family together to pray while she refreshed the page.
“If the similarity score was still high, it became a full family effort to restructure sentences, even my granny got involved. Let’s just say the vocabulary became very creative at times. Looking back now, those moments are some of the memories we laugh about most,” he said.
Calem said his mother’s determination inspired him throughout his studies.
“She was balancing work, family responsibilities, and academics at the same time, yet she remained disciplined and committed throughout,” he said. “Her consistency reminded me that success is not built in one moment, but through small efforts every single day,” said Calem.
He said watching his mom continue pursuing her education reminded him that learning and self-improvement never really stop.
"I am deeply grateful to my mom for everything she has done, not only throughout this academic journey, but throughout my life. Her support, sacrifices, faith, and constant encouragement have played a huge role in shaping the person I am today. Going through this experience together allowed me to see her strength, discipline, and determination on an even deeper level. I am incredibly proud of her and all that she has achieved.
"I would also like to thank all the other ‘mothers’ in my life. My aunties, my grannies and all those who have had an impact on my life. It took a village, and for them I am eternally grateful," he said.
Calem is currently pursuing a Master’s in Commerce in Finance. under the supervision of Dr Hilary Muguto and hopes to eventually complete a doctorate in finance and become a lecturer at UKZN.
“My future plans are centred around academia, research, and contributing positively to society,” he said.