After long hours spent on campus, endless assignments and the pressure to get it right, 728 students graduated from the Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA) on Sunday, November 16. The institution conferred degrees to them during its 31st graduation ceremony held at its main campus in Kigali. The New Times spoke to several of the graduates, who shared their reflections and the paths they hope to pursue as they begin their post-university journeys. For Sonia Tuyishime Mugeni, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate, the ceremony marked a very proud moment for her life. “Finally seeing myself in the graduation gown felt like a long-awaited dream come true,” she said. “It was my first-ever graduation, and everyone who saw me could tell how happy I was.” She said her journey was marked by moments of deep struggle. In her first year, the difficulty of the Anatomy and Physiology course nearly made her give up. “I reached a point where I told my parent I was quitting,” she said, noting that she later received encouragement from one of her lecturers, and she decided to continue fighting with the course. Now, after graduating, she says she plans to pursue a master’s degree. She noted that she is confident about her employment prospects. Vincent Munezero, another graduate who earned a Master’s in Finance, said the graduation felt almost unreal after overcoming numerous challenges. “To finally find your name on the graduation list feels like a miracle,” he said. “Completing every course especially in AUCA is not easy. Graduating with a good grade and managing tuition as a self-employed person is something I truly thank God for.” He pointed to Advanced Corporate Finance as one of the toughest courses he faced. “Only God made me finish it,” he said. Looking ahead, he plans to apply his knowledge to strengthen his business and eventually create jobs for others. “There is a saying: If you don’t use time, time will use you when you get old. We go to school to prepare for a future we don't yet know. My degree is not just for employment it is also my backup plan.” Shakila Ishimwe, who graduated with a grand distinction in Networks and Communication Systems, said her success came from consistency despite academic and personal challenges. “Despite the complexity of the program, I overcame by working very hard and staying focused,” she said. She now plans to pursue a master’s degree in Information Technology while also sending applications to various institutions. For Aimé Nduwayesu, a Master of Education graduate, AUCA shaped him much more beyond academic knowledge. “We joined AUCA as learners, but we left as leaders molded by challenges, strengthened by knowledge, and guided by God’s grace,” he said while addressing the graduation class of 2025. He emphasized that the world needs more than degree holders. “The world doesn’t need more graduates; it needs light-bearers; men and women who use their knowledge to heal, to build, and to serve.”
