Meet Genevieve da Silva

“With the high demand for few jobs, it’s hard to obtain a job without some sort of qualification,” said Genevieve da Silva, a Damelin West Rand student currently completing her Marketing (IMM GSM) degree part-time while working as the marketing manager for the Brow Bar in Clearwater Mall. Genevieve believes that choosing a tertiary institution is one of the most important decisions a young adult has to make.

“An estimated 40% of university students drop out within first year, while only an estimated 10% of students dropout from Damelin,” she said during her speech at a high school principals’ breakfast held late last year. Genevieve started studying at Damelin West Rand in 2009 and completed a certificate in Conference and Events management before going on to study towards an IMM GSM diploma in 2010.

“In Matric I was still uncertain as to what the future held for me. I did know that I prefer small classes and individual attention. This meant I didn’t even consider some of the big universities – I didn’t want to be just a number. I wanted to be known by name, by the principal herself.”

“I have been at Damelin West Rand for three years and it is my home away from home. Everyone knows students by names, from the security guards at the gate to the principal. Students are able to discuss problems with either heads of Damelin West Rand – Jackie and Gerda always have an open door,” she said, adding that facilitators would schedule extra classes to help learners who struggled with the syllabus.

“Damelin West Rand has allowed me to broaden my personal vision and better define my goals,” said Genevieve, “I have learnt that there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, and no challenge too great for me!”

We believe this passionate young marketing professional is going to go far! Find out more about studying Marketing (IMM GSM) by clicking here.