Shudufhadzo Musida Shares Challenges She Faced While Studying in New York

Former Miss South Africa Shudufhadzo Musida has opened up about the emotional and physical challenges she faced while completing her master’s degree at Columbia University in the United States.

Speaking on My Top 10 at 10 with Tbose, Musida reflected on her academic journey and the special moments that made all the sacrifices worthwhile.

One of those moments came when her name was called during her graduation ceremony. For Musida, hearing her surname pronounced correctly carried a much deeper meaning.

“For me it was important because it represented my grandfather. He was part of this journey before he passed. That moment happened and I was like, damn, the Musida name is now Ivy League status, Barack Obama walked here, Warren Buffett has walked here, and now it’s my grandfather’s name, Musida,” she said.

The achievement was also a proud moment for her family, especially her mother, who travelled to New York to witness the milestone.

Musida spoke fondly of her mother, who raised her as a single parent after having her at just 19 years old.

“I’m so grateful that she never limited my dreams just because she didn’t have the finances at the time for my dreams,” she said.

Seeing her daughter graduate from one of the world’s most prestigious universities was an emotional moment for her mother. “I’ve never seen her smile that big,” Musida added.

While graduating from Columbia University was a major accomplishment, Musida revealed that the journey was far from easy.

She explained that studying and living in New York tested her in ways she had never experienced before.

“No one will ever really, truly know how hard it was for me to walk across that stage. But to know that God has been with me every single second just made it all worth it,” she said.

Musida also had to adjust to New York’s harsh winter conditions. She revealed that she relied on vitamin D supplements to cope with the cold weather, where temperatures dropped to minus 11°C.

Beyond the weather, adapting to the cold weather in a foreign country proved challenging.

Musida admitted that the adjustment to the weather was difficult. “I was swearing. Every time I’d walk, my favourite word became the F-word,” she said.

She added that one of the hardest experiences was dealing with illness while being far away from her loved ones.

“Being sick in a foreign country without people around you, is the hardest. If I’m sick here my mom would bring me medicine.”

Despite the obstacles, Musida’s graduation marked the successful end of a journey defined by perseverance, faith and determination. Her story serves as a reminder that behind every achievement are challenges that many people never get to see.