A Chaos Theory Account of a Young Resilient South African Black Manâs PhD Path and the Power of Support: My Longitudinal Critical Case Study (2016â2022)

Nkosinathi Zongozzi

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Chapter 2 A Chaos Theory Account of a Young Resilient South African Black Manâs PhD Path and the Power of Support

My Longitudinal Critical Case Study (2016â2022)

In: Road to PhD

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Nkosinathi Zongozzi

Nkosinathi Zongozzi
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 16â33

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004757073-002

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Abstract

My journey towards a PhD as a young black man from South Africa was filled with distinctive challenges and hardship. This longitudinal critical case study examines my experiences during my PhD studies, applying chaos theory to provide a narrative perspective and highlighting the support I received. My exceptional memory, emails, WhatsApp conversations with the university, family, and friends, as well as stored images helped me remember and reflect on past events. This aided me in recalling my initial challenges and navigating aspects like cultural identity, support systems, mentorship, and networks. I utilise the chaos theory perspective to analyse how significant life events during my PhD studies from 2016 to 2022 influenced my progress. I show how I managed to overcome challenges while studying on a fixed-term employment contract, raising a small family with two toddlers, relocating to secure permanent employment, switching my PhD studies across three disciplines, changing supervisors, dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home, moving houses, and navigating the impacts of fluctuating repo rates, among other obstacles. I believe in my PhD degree as proof of resilience and the positive impact of a good support system. I hope that my distinctive situation will provide a perspective for upcoming black students to perceive life as a complex system and, thus, acquire understanding of the inherent organisation amidst the disorder, navigate the dynamic and unpredictable character of circumstances, and excel in their academic pursuits.

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Road to PhD

Supervision and Mentorship in Doctoral Journeys

Series:Â The Doctoral Journey in Education, Volume: 12

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004757073

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 21 Apr 2026

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- Education

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Chapter 2 A Chaos Theory Account of a Young Resilient South African Black Manâs PhD Path and the Power of Support

My Longitudinal Critical Case Study (2016â2022)

Abstract

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Share link with colleague or librarian

Road to PhD

Supervision and Mentorship in Doctoral Journeys

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Chapter 2 A Chaos Theory Account of a Young Resilient South African Black Manâs PhD Path and the Power of Support

My Longitudinal Critical Case Study (2016â2022)