A doctor of law at just 25 ...

Dr Nicolene Steyn has become the youngest person to obtain a doctoral degree at North West University’s faculty of law. She made history by completing her PhD studies at the age of 25 and within two years of registration, despite fighting financial hardship and an anxiety disorder. ‘To me, the achievement means I gave my best, and it fills me with hope, not only for myself and my future, but for those who, however unfortunate their circumstances, are also giving their best and faithfully pursuing a better future,’ she said. Steyn grew up on the ‘under-developed’ side of the tracks in Zeerust, called Sandvlakte, notes a TimesLIVE report. ‘My family, which comprised my father, mother and two older brothers, was very poor. My father, the sole breadwinner and a retired mechanic, was a “recycling entrepreneur”, a fairly rare trade at the time. This entailed him driving a peculiar-looking old green truck around town and collecting discarded boxes, cans, plastic and glass from shops. Selling the recyclables was the family’s only income, and was unreliable given the limited supply and cost of fuel,' she said. She obtained an LLB in 2017 with distinction and was able to complete a two-year LLM degree within a year. Steyn’s next goal is to obtain professorship before the age of 30.