A Remarkable Journey- From Petrol Attendant to Medical Doctor
"Becoming a doctor has always been my dream," Ntando shared.
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Ntando Makhubela, a 25-year-old petrol attendant hailing from Nelspruit, South Africa, has defied the odds and fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a Medical Doctor. His remarkable journey from pumping gas to wearing a white coat began when he won a scholarship from the Mpumalanga Health Department in South Africa to study medicine in Cuba.
Ntando's early life was marked by challenges, but his determination was unwavering. He graduated with honors in Maths, Biology, and Physics from Cyril Clarke Secondary School in 2014. Despite his academic prowess, financial constraints prevented him from pursuing higher education.
Undeterred, he applied to the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa to study medicine but faced disappointment when he was not accepted, even with a bursary. "Becoming a doctor has always been my dream," Ntando shared. "I fell in love with the biological sciences, which I found so intriguing and very relevant to the country, given the shortage of medical personnel."
Unable to enroll in medical school, he briefly pursued a Bachelor of Science but was forced to drop out due to financial instability after just two weeks. Returning to his hometown of Nelspruit, he took up a job as a petrol attendant in May 2015 to support himself and his family.
It was during his time working at the gas station that Ntando's life took a transformative turn. The chairperson of the African National Congress, impressed by Ntando's outstanding high school performance, approached him and provided a scholarship application form. Ntando applied and was subsequently granted a scholarship by the Mpumalanga Health Department to study medicine in Cuba.
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His journey abroad began in 2016, with his first year in Cuba dedicated to learning the Spanish language. Ntando explained, "In 2016, I received a scholarship from the Mpumalanga Health Department and was part of a group of 56 students from the province traveling to Cuba to study medicine. I only really started studying medicine in 2017, as the first year is spent learning Spanish."
The Mpumalanga Health Department's scholarships are aimed at South African students, particularly those from Mpumalanga, providing them with the opportunity to pursue a medical education in Cuba.
With his medical degree in hand, Ntando envisions a future where he will promote primary health care and advocate for nationwide healthcare prioritization. He intends to reach out to remote rural areas, offering health education and development, while enlightening people about lifestyle choices that impact their well-being.
Ntando Makhubela's story serves as an inspiring testament to resilience and unwavering determination, proving that dreams can be achieved against all odds.
