Thabang passed his matric with flying colours and obtained distinctions in Mathematics, Life Sciences, Geography, Life Orientation, Sepedi, English, the most distinctions achieved by any student in matric at Tlakale Mashashane High School in that year(2016). The illustrious feat earned him admission to study medicine at the University Of Limpopo in 2016, also graduating in record time in the year of 2021.
“Entering varsity coming from a disadvantaged environment is a daunting task. Challenges were quite a lot, but nothing too hard that would lend me in for serious help. One of the biggest issues was food. I struggled to get proper access to food for the first few weeks until the bursary finally paid up. Another issue was peer pressure. Seeing your peers coming from well off families, wearing nice clothes and lacking nothing. This was one of those things that made some students to look at themselves and criticize their own modest means. Nonetheless, we got through that” proudly said Thabang.
Academically speaking, there were just a lot to study in a short space of time, with weekly assessments (assignments, tests, exams). There was always something to work on every single day for the ambitious young medical student. As a deep religious individual, one of the positive challenges for Thabang, was that he had to work on his relationship with God. He adds “I had to do a science based research on the existence of God and Christ and also prove, scientifically, the truthfulness of the Holy Bible. Now when I say I believe in Christ, I know exactly what I am saying and what it really means.”
Leadership is also in Thabang’s blood. From the year 2016 to 2018, he became a leader of medicine students at varsity. He went on to also lead Christian organisations from then, until his final year as a medicine student in 2021.
He states “ my winning formula has always been one: I do my best in everything, and trust God with the outcome. All my life, medicine has been my passion. I always wanted to be a doctor. This dream was fuelled by my former high school principal Mr Rammutla, who in many ways pushed me even harder to the realisation of this dream. I think medicine is the only field I saw myself in. I loved Life Sciences, and medicine is simply a lot of Life Sciences.”
Thabang is a Born Again child of God, gifted with the knowledge of God, and an active member in the body of Christ by teaching and leading the youth in Christ. He is also a medical doctor at Lebowakgomo Hospital where he currently works as an intern. He rotates in all the fields of medicine to perfect his skills post graduation. He aims to be a well rounded medical doctor long after completing his internship.
For future purposes, Thabang says he would like to focus primarily on the study of paediatrics (the branch of medicine dealing with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth up to the age of 18). It is one field he has come to love. He plans to study further as he mentions that he doesn’t want to become a shallow doctor. “I want to know my stuff and treat patients to the best of my ability. I also want to branch into private sector, and work both in public and private sector by opening my own surgery partnering with few friends” he said.
The 26 year old and young doctor, is one shining example in his community, and hopes to inspire those who are to follow in his footsteps. “Life is hard, and that is a fact. But one can decide to make the best out of it. I have made a decision early in my life that I will not remain poor, and I am still working on that decision to this day. My faith in Christ has strengthened my self-confidence and importance, knowing for a fact that God is always with me at all times. Therefore, I need not to worry about anything. He guides me in all things as I submit to His leadership. I think that is one factor that worked best so far in my life” he concluded.