24-Year-Old Lady Graduates With Honors in Medicine, Becomes First Graduate in Her Family

A 24-year-old woman identified as Thembelihle Maziya earns a degree in Medicine with honours, shares how she became first doctor in her family.

Thembelihle Maziya, a 24-year-old African woman, has earned a degree in Medicine with honors from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

Maziya graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, notably being the only Black student among her class of 14 graduates.

Expressing her joy, Maziya highlighted the significance of being the first in her family to attend university and the eldest among her siblings.

“I was very excited. Actually, I wanted to cry, in my heart I was like ‘God, this is all because of you?’. I was very emotional and happy at the same time,” she said.

Maziya shared that her journey through medical school was challenging, especially since her parents were unemployed, requiring her to become self-reliant.

Her passion for science, commitment to lifelong learning, dedication to serving her community, and desire to break her family’s cycle of poverty inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.

“I appreciate science and am a lifelong learner. Knowing that medicine is rooted in science and is a dynamic profession made me want to improve people’s health. I wanted to break the cycle of poverty back at home,” she said.

Maziya attributed her success to a strong support system of family and friends, noting that attending church and comedy nights helped her manage academic stress.

“I often went to church for solace. Sometimes I’d watch comedy, take walks, and talk to my best friend and family about my stress,” Maziya said.

“There were always pressures. Sometimes I felt the degree was too much and thought of quitting, but then I’d consider the situation at home and the possibility of being labeled a drop-out. I had no choice but to persevere,” she added.

Maziya credited regular studying and innovative study methods for her success. She would seek external resources to better understand her coursework.

“I organized my study materials, found a suitable learning style, and sought help when needed. I would go the extra mile to gather data for understanding chapters, join study groups, and watch YouTube videos,” she said.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION