Starting to study at the age of 32 may seem laughable to some, but when the possibility of further study became a reality to him, Kyle Jackson grabbed it and excelled at every opportunity. The 36-year-old from Kenilworth in Cape Town earned his Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude at the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) graduation ceremony this week.
He previously experienced three unsuccessful attempts at gaining entry to university. Then he came across the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme, which recognised and assessed his work and lived experiences, and his life was steered in a completely different direction. He could finally start his academic career in 2021 on a path to realising his dream of becoming a psychologist one day.
Dr Rekha Rambharose, head of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme at UWC, said: “In my history of working with RPL candidates, I have never seen such a remarkable person. The portfolio he submitted was out of this world; he truly went above and beyond.
Jackson underwent the intense six-month readiness programme, and it provided him with access to a BA undergraduate degree at UWC. He took the opportunity with gratitude, worked hard and was placed on the Dean’s Merit List every year.
He faced many challenges, but looking back at his life, he can see that everything happened in preparation for his training as a psychologist.
He believes growing up under tough conditions in Athlone on the Cape Flats, coupled with the harsh bullying he endured during high school, deeply impacted his sense of belonging and caused feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt, yet he is grateful for the many challenging life experiences.
“Like many in our country, I come from a family with limited means. Without these experiences, I wouldn’t have acquired the life skills and experiences that I can now use actively to help others,” he said.
Shortly after Jackson’s biological parents separated, he was diagnosed with a conduct disorder. He acknowledges how privileged he was to have had access to a psychologist, a service not typically available to disadvantaged youth like himself. By the time he reached high school; he became the target of severe bullying and started developing extreme rebellion. “I was exposed to a mindset that was only limited to the boundaries of my surroundings.” Jackson acknowledges now that he wasn’t equipped with the proper tools to regulate his emotions in a healthy way. As a result, he defaulted to delinquent behaviour and substance abuse, resulting in having to repeat Grade 11.
“It was only later that I recognised the psychological impact it had on my life. I continue to attend therapy sessions today, working through my childhood trauma, although much of the healing process began outside of therapy. My family, friends, community, and wider social support networks have been crucial protective factors.
I want to also acknowledge the protective factors the community plays – the social bonds that really protect many youth from violence, gangsterism and drugs.”
After matric, he started working as a replenisher at a leading retailer. His career path took him into the field of corporate social responsibility at the new company.
“I would put my hand up for everything, and I guess I got noticed. I enjoyed interacting and engaging with community members, especially in the disadvantaged areas I was familiar with. That’s where my heart is. Then already I wanted to serve others and make a youngster’s experience on the Cape Flats’ far better than mine was, by equipping them with the right coping skills. Later I worked in human resources as a people leader, learning and development training facilitator, and an organisational change manager. I pursued people-centred roles because being able to collaborate, listen to, support, and engage with people from diverse backgrounds and skill sets, offered a sense of fulfilment.”
“Apart from my work in business, I got involved in community projects. These projects aimed to make mental health support more available and to raise awareness about mental health issues. I still volunteer for these projects today.”
Jackson engaged in community projects promoting health and wellness. Meanwhile, he was advancing his career, finding himself surrounded by professionals with diverse university degrees, mainly in the fields of industrial psychology, leadership, and commerce.
“I was at a crossroads, torn between the desire to drive societal change and the constraints of my corporate position. Although the work was rewarding and offered financial stability, I felt it was time to study psychology because this is where passion meets purpose for me.”
Jackson in his capacity as an organisational change leader after a skills training seminar. “My upbringing played a key role and piqued my interest in psychology. From an early age, I was fascinated by how and why humans behaved differently. Looking at the world from a lens growing up on the Cape Flats always had me wondering why people I knew responded differently to similar environments and circumstances as mine. For example, impoverished environments like the one I grew up in lend themselves to negative life choices in areas of child development, education, and overall well-being,” said Jackson.
The graduate’s interest in the community motivates him to facilitate and enable others to reach their full human potential despite their surrounding distractions. In his free time, he volunteers at several community-based youth organisations in disadvantaged areas in the Western Cape, where he equips the youth with life skills.
“My hope is for the youth to have a more joyful and positive childhood experience on the Cape Flats and to limit barriers to reaching their full potential.”
But it doesn’t end here; he pays regular visits to schools in Bridgetown – where he grew up – to help teachers with stress management and yoga techniques.
“Teachers find it extremely difficult with the pressures of teaching. Just 10 minutes of employing these management techniques during their school breaks, makes a big difference,” said an eloquent Jackson, who hopes to establish his own psychology practice after completing his master’s training and registering with the HPCSA as a clinical psychologist. He is currently working towards an Honours degree in psychology.
