STUDENTS THAT (SIDE)HUSTLE: ELMARI MYBURG

Caitlynn Grobler

Photographer, waitress, and teacher Elmari Myburg does it all. From woodwork to crochet, from sewing to taking care of her vegetable garden, Elmari always has something to keep her busy.

This Urban and Regional Planning honours student has been hustling since her first year at the North-West University (NWU), when she started as a waitress at Impala.  Thereafter, Elmari never stopped challenging herself to take on new hobbies and learn new skills that would benefit her in the future. 

By day, Elmari is an experienced photographer with her own photography business, “After working at Impala for six months, I started taking photos with my friend, and that December I bought my first camera.” By night, you can find her waitressing at Music Café. “I try to do things that would benefit my future lifestyle and add to my skill set. Being a waitress at Musics teaches me to work with different types of people,” she explains.

 Adding to these side hustles, she also earned a qualification in Teaching English as Foreign Language (TEFL) and has since been teaching English online. Not only did she start her course training at the beginning of the year, but did so while choosing and researching her honours project. She made it clear that not all hustles need to be loud.

When asked how she manages her time, Elmari joked, saying, “I try to manage my time well, but I don’t have an Apple iPad to do it.” She continued to explain that when she starts to feel overwhelmed, she usually tries to focus on her routine to keep her stable and regain her original drive. “I’ll wake up, try to go to the gym at 8 or 9, then I’ll go home and take a walk with my brother, and afterwards I’ll work on my dissertation. But I don’t have any other tips on that. I’m still figuring out how to manage my time,” she adds. 

Like any other university student, Elmari tries her best in everything, while managing her social, academic and career life. She  admitted, “I am the last person to be asked how to manage time.” 

When thinking about starting a side-hustle or small business, students often don’t know where to start. Elmari’s answer was simple: “I’d start by asking myself, ‘What do I like to do?’” 

“I liked taking photos, and then my friend showed me how to make money out of it. So, surround yourself with the right people,” she explains. With this advice in mind, a side hustle can be both scary and challenging , but by doing it with passion and the right support system, the sky’s the limit. The key is to remember that side hustling has no downsides, it only benefits you in advancing your skills and broadening your knowledge. 

Her lifestyle can encourage anyone who is considering starting a side hustle. Elmari’s personality highlights her spirit, her energy, and her adventurous creative self. Her passionate approach to everything she does is contagious, and clearly reflects  in her hard work and drive. Like many students, she says, “I don’t really know what I want to do after graduation, so I think it’s better to give some of my hobbies a try. To do something I am passionate about.”