From Atlantis to academia: Dr Allison Matroos's inspiring PhD journey
Dr Allison Matroos from Atlantis after graduating with her PhD in Afrikaans and Dutch at Stellenbosch University.
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The West Coast town of Atlantis is often associated with poverty, unemployment, gang violence and drug abuse. But it is also home to achievers whose stories challenge that narrative. One of them is Dr Allison Matroos.
Matroos, a proud Atlantis native, reached a major academic milestone on Monday, 23 March 2026, when she graduated with a doctorate in Afrikaans and Dutch from Stellenbosch University. She said she completed her PhD in just two years.
Now a postdoctoral fellow and temporary lecturer in the university’s Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, Matroos is also the first in her family to attend university.
Raised by her grandmother, she describes a childhood shaped by financial hardship but strengthened by resilience.
“When you grow up in Atlantis you learn at an early age of survival, but also what the word ‘perseverance’ really means. My journey wasn’t easy. I walked a winding path of falling and getting up again in an environment where one's dreams are often overshadowed by violence and feel out of one's reach,” she said.
There were moments when she considered giving up.
“If I could have been paid R1 for all the times I thought about giving up, I would be a millionaire today. Knowing that my mother and grandmother were praying for me and that no one was going to come and save me, that I was responsible for my own future, kept me going.”
For Matroos, earning her PhD is more than a personal milestone.
“It’s not about being the smartest, but about putting in the time and showing up, even in the times you feel like running away,” she said.
She dedicated her doctorate to her partner, McKenzie, whose support she said helped her complete the degree in two years instead of three. She also paid tribute to her late brother, saying she hopes he would be proud.
Matroos’ research focuses on the role of literature, particularly short stories and poems, in developing the four key language skills of second-language learners, reading, speaking, listening and writing.
She designed lessons that encourage students to actively engage with language through storytelling, rather than simply memorising rules.
“My fascination with Afrikaans language and literature lies in the affective power of language, in other words how a low affective filter, as the American linguist Stephen Krashen puts it, is essential for the successful learning of a language. Literature provides that ‘safe space’.”
She said a single poem or story can reduce anxiety and unlock a student’s passion for a language that may previously have felt inaccessible.
Beyond academia, Matroos is also an accomplished writer. She began writing in Grade 9 and, at 21, published her first collection of poems and short stories, Kaleidoskoop.
“The driving force behind the first poem I wrote is my little brother's death. Writing helps me understand my feelings. I explore themes such as love, humanity, being, and social issues,” she said.
Her work, both academic and creative, is deeply rooted in her community.
“My research emphasises that the choice of culturally appropriate texts dramatically increases students' engagement and motivation. By telling stories that reflect the reality of our communities, we acknowledge our own existence. It repositions our experiences as something valuable enough to study and write about.”
She added that it is important to capture the experiences of people of colour so that their voices can be heard.
Looking ahead, Matroos hopes to expand her research into teacher training and curriculum development to help address gaps in Afrikaans education nationally. She also plans to continue writing to ensure that stories from Atlantis and similar communities are represented in classrooms.
Her message to young people growing up in communities like Atlantis is clear, take control of your story.
“Take control of your life and write your own story. Ask for help if you need help. Being shy or embarrassed won’t get you anything.”