Mature Student’s Road To Becoming a Doctor

I am a mature student (34) with a dream to become a doctor. After seeing the state of the government hospitals, and experiencing first-hand the difference quality care can make, I set out on this journey 3 years ago.

I have had to reteach myself the 3 years of high school maths and science and 6 months. I got accepted to study a BSc Physiology through Unisa and jumped at the opportunity to get marks high enough for universities to consider me, because my matric certificate was just not good enough. However, I work in a small school (a ministry of a church), running their sports programme, and affording my part-time studies was a stretch. After 2 years of working from 06:30 - 16:00, then going to a small fitness business that I started in order to fund my studies until 19:00, I somehow managed to get distinctions. I would get up at 04:00 in the morning to study, and spent every available minute I could find behind my books. I also wrote the National Benchmark Test (University Entrance Exam) this year, and did very well in that too. Unfortunately, in spite of my achievements, the universities still turned me down based on my matric results.

I just kept at it, and kept believing that I was on the right path, and that a door would open for me. The good news came when the University of Pretoria accepted me into the BSc Biological Sciences programme, with the option to move over to Medicine in July (provided that I maintain my results).

This is a wonderful opportunity for me. However, it has put me in a difficult situation financially. I have to relocate from KZN to Pretoria and my mother (a single mother) just does not have the funds to help me get through my first year at university. I am having to pay my tuition fees, books, accommodation and meals. I am hopeful that I will get some help from somewhere in order for me to follow my dream of helping people, because studying full time will mean I am no longer able to work a 14-hour day. If you are able to assist me in any way, no matter how small, your help will be greatly appreciated. I am an incredible driven, dedicated and ambitious person, and I am even willing to repay the money once I qualify and start earning a salary.

I thank you in advance for considering my story.