24-year-old African lady Bags Medicine Degree with Honors

In a remarkable display of determination and resilience, 24-year-old Thembelihle Maziya has graduated with honors from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB).

Notably, Maziya was the only black student among her class of 14 graduates, making her achievement all the more significant.

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Maziya, who graduated with a Summa Cum Laude grade, expressed profound joy and gratitude for her accomplishment. As the first-born of her siblings and the first in her family to attend university, her achievement holds special significance. “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 shared.

Despite the challenges of medical school and the added pressure of having to survive independently due to her parents’ unemployment, Maziya remained undeterred. Her love for science, commitment to lifelong learning, desire to serve her community, and determination to break the cycle of poverty in her family were the driving forces behind her pursuit of a career in medicine.

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“I am a person who appreciates science and a lifelong learner. Knowing that medicine is rooted in science and is a dynamic profession, made me want to take the role of improving the health of people. I wanted to break the cycle of poverty back at home,” she said.

Maziya’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence, serving as an inspiration to many.