Six UR Graduates Share Their Lessons, Excitement and Future Plans

The University of Rwanda's 12th graduation ceremony brought together graduates celebrating the completion of their studies and looking ahead to new opportunities. Six graduates shared their excitement, the lessons they learned during their academic journeys, and their plans for the future.
For the graduates, earning a degree marked an important achievement after years of study, hard work, and overcoming challenges. While some plan to continue their education, others are ready to enter the job market.
Irakoze Ambila, a graduate of the College of Science and Technology (CST), said he that he is grateful for completing his studies and described the journey as an experience that shaped him.
“I am very happy. God did it. It was a long journey, and I learned many lessons along the way. The journey also shaped me,” he said.
Speaking about his career plans, Ambila acknowledged that finding opportunities in the labour market may not be easy. However, he said he was ready to work hard and apply the knowledge he gained at university.
“Based on the experiences of my elders, things are not easy in the labour market, but I am going to work hard and do my best using the knowledge the University of Rwanda has given me,” he said.
Amandine Divine Muhoza, a graduate in Information Technology, also expressed her happiness about completing her degree. She said she found it difficult to put her feelings into words.
“I am very happy. I don’t know how to express my feelings,” she said.
Muhoza added that earning a bachelor’s degree was not the end of her academic journey. Instead, she sees it as the beginning of another chapter and hopes to continue her studies.
“This is not the end of our career; it is just the beginning. We want to continue our studies, and I believe tomorrow will be better,” she emphasized.
For Kwizera Jean Marie Vianney, a graduate of the School of Nursing, earning a degree was an important achievement for both him and his family.
“This degree is a valuable achievement for me and my family,” he said.
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Kwizera plans to focus on finding work rather than continuing his studies immediately.
“I will not continue studying for now. I am going to work and earn money,” he said.
Kevine Kwizera, a graduate of the Midwifery programme, described her degree as a dream come true. She reflected on the challenges she faced during her studies and expressed satisfaction that her hard work had paid off.
“The journey was very hard but exciting. I was always struggling, working hard to study and trying to avoid retakes. I am happy that I did not have any retakes, and I am grateful that my hard work paid off,” she said.
Looking ahead, Kevine plans to work while continuing her studies. She explained that although she has made significant progress, she still has more goals to achieve.
Dusabirane Florence, a graduate in the Faculty of Horticulture, expressed gratitude to the teachers who supported him throughout his academic journey. He also celebrated the achievement of earning his degree while holding a job.
“I am very happy, and I am grateful to my teachers, who helped us work hard and become who we are today. I am also very lucky to have obtained my degree while having a job,” he said.
Florence plans to continue working while pursuing postgraduate studies. He also shared his plans to get married in the future.
Meanwhile, Atete Princesse, a graduate in the Faculty of Crop Production, said her academic journey was not easy, but she was happy to have completed it. She shared the lessons she learned from the experience, including the importance of patience, faith, and perseverance.
“One step at a time. You may fail today, but tomorrow you can make it. I have also learned that we need God in everything we do because it is not only about knowledge,” she said.
Princesse plans to pursue a master’s degree and build her career in her field.
The six graduates shared different plans for the future, but their experiences reflected the effort required to complete university studies and the importance of continuing to work towards personal and professional goals.
During the University of Rwanda’s 12th graduation ceremony, a total of 4,953 graduates received degrees at different academic levels, including undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes.