Juggling student politics, social life and other commitments wisely while prioritising study life is what Thato Eben Phala did diligently to aim for academic excellence.

His discipline and perseverance were rewarded when he obtained his BCom Law degree (cum laude) at the recent Unisa Polokwane Autumn Graduations held at the Ranch Hotel.

Phala, from Mohlaletsi in the Sekhukhune area of Limpopo Province, is the Education and Training Officer of the outgoing Limpopo Regional Student Representative Council.

Following his primary and secondary school education in Gauteng (Olifantsfontein and Kempton Park, respectively), Phala chose the University of the Land as a place to define his tomorrow. He has an answer to those who think that studying at Unisa is easy.

"A common misconception is that studying at a distance education institution such as Unisa is easy because of its flexibility," says Phala. "However, my personal experience has shown that studying at Unisa is actually demanding and requires a high level of discipline, structure and self-motivation. The absence of daily face-to-face contact means that a student must take full responsibility for staying on track academically."

His advice to current and future students is to approach their studies with seriousness from the beginning: "Success in distance learning depends on consistent engagement with study material, careful planning of time and avoiding procrastination. Without these, it becomes very easy to fall behind."

According to Phala, one of the challenges he faced during his studies was balancing multiple responsibilities, especially managing academic demands alongside student leadership duties within the RSRC. This, sometimes, created pressure, especially during peak academic periods such as assessments and examinations.

"For me," he says, "being a Unisa student required developing strict routines, setting clear weekly goals and balancing academic work with other responsibilities such as student leadership in the RSRC. There were times when the workload felt overwhelming, but staying organised and focused on my long-term goal helped me remain consistent. Ultimately, achieving my qualification with cum laude taught me that success in distance learning is not about convenience, but about discipline, resilience, and sustained effort over time."

While he was actively involved in student politics and other extracurricular activities, Phala never forgot to focus on his studies. He says balancing academic responsibilities with his RSRC responsibilities required him to adjust his time management approach.

“I addressed these challenges by developing structured study plans, improving my time management skills, and adopting a proactive approach to completing tasks early," says Phala. "This not only helped me manage pressure more effectively but also contributed to my academic success."

The other challenge was maintaining consistency in time management, as competing priorities demanded his attention, lest he compromise the quality of his work. As if that were not enough, Phala also had to adapt to high academic expectations, especially when it came to engaging with complex coursework.

He emphasises that his winning recipe was prioritisation, consistency and careful planning. He used detailed weekly schedules to allocate dedicated time for both academic work and student leadership duties, ensuring that neither area was neglected.

"I also focused on completing tasks early where possible, which reduced last-minute pressure and helped me maintain consistent quality in both roles," he says. "Effective communication and accountability within the RSRC team were equally important, as they ensured that responsibilities were shared and managed efficiently."

Phala adds that this experience enabled him to maintain strong academic performance while successfully fulfilling his leadership responsibilities: "I was motivated to overcome these challenges by a strong personal commitment to achieve academic excellence and complete my qualification with distinction. I understood that discipline and perseverance were necessary to balance both academic and leadership responsibilities successfully."

Post matric education runs in the Phala family. His mother, Maseropye Mahlaba, has a BA Degree and a PGCE from the University of Johannesburg, as well as an Honours Degree in Educational Management from Unisa, while his younger sibling has an Advanced Diploma in Accounting Science from Unisa.

Phala points out that, with proper planning and dedication, it is possible to excel in student politics and in academic life. His motivation came from a combination of personal ambition, responsibility and the desire to improve himself consistently, hence the following tip for other student leaders: "They must remember that their academic success remains their primary responsibility. Leadership roles are important and rewarding, but they should never come at the expense of academic performance. Prioritisation is key, especially during peak academic periods such as assessments and examinations. Ultimately, student leadership should complement academic growth, not compete with it."

Phala is currently registered for an  LLB degree with Unisa as well as an Honours in Taxation at the University of the Free State. He is also registered for a short course at the Thabo Mbeki School of Public and International Affairs. He hopes the qualification will assist him in building a strong technical expertise in taxation and law, and in developing a deeper understanding of public policy and governance.

His ambition is to complete his studies and work in the legal and tax-related professions. 

* By Malose Gilbert Mokwatedi, Communication Manager, Unisa North Eastern Region