Triumph of work and study
AVISHKA Chewpersad, 26, recently graduated top of her class at the University of KZN.
She juggled a full-time job in order to finance her studies and recently received a cum laude Bachelor of Medical Science Honours in medical biochemistry.
Chewpersad, who lives in Phoenix with her parents, matriculated from Palmview Secondary School in 2014.
She did her undergraduate studies at the UKZN Westville campus between 2015 and 2017 and obtained a Bachelor of Medical Science: Physiology degree.
On completing her degree, she started working as a laboratory assistant at Lab24 in Mount Edgecombe in 2018. She now works as a quality control officer for the same company.
She decided to embark on her Honours degree studies last year.
“Going back to study was my choice and responsibility so it was only apt for me to pay for my studying.
“It is also extremely difficult to get funding opportunities as a mature student and hence I am still working to fund my medical studies.
“I completed my postgraduate degree at UKZN Howard Campus in 2022 and am currently a medical student at the UKZN Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine.”
Chewpersad said medical biochemistry piqued her interest in her undergraduate years when she was introduced to the topic.
She said discipline drove goals to accomplishments.
“Hard work and the correct mindset are also vital, but discipline will get you through the most difficult and consuming times.”
Chewpersad said the highlight of her academic degree was being recognised as one of UKZN’S top 100 women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in 2022.
She said returning to studying after many years was a change that she needed to get accustomed to.
“However, I have had tremendous support from my academic peers, family and friends. I also did not have any financial assistance and worked full-time at a pathology laboratory during my Honours degree.
“Maintaining a balance between studying and working was challenging at times, but I was fortunate to have the support and patience of both my lecturers and employers at Lab24. I am still working to fund my studies.”
Chewpersad said her future academic plans were headed towards the medical field.
“I had a long-term goal of studying medicine during my undergrad years, but was never accepted.
“Getting back into studying was a way of persevering towards this goal that I was adamant about achieving. I am finally a medical student and aspire to venture into surgery and pathology as well as integrating research and clinical practice.”
Chewpersad is also a graduate of the Indian classical dance form known as Bharatanatyam.
In her spare time, she teaches dancing on the weekends at the Kumari Shiksha’s Dance Institute.
“Dancing was a hobby that turned into a part-time career and has awarded me opportunities to participate in many local and international dance events.
“It has also been a coping mechanism with academic stress throughout the years.”
Aaliyah Mangerah, 23, graduated cum laude with an Honours degree in medical biochemistry, also making the top of her class, along with Chewpersad.
Mangerah, from KwaDukuza (Stanger), recently married. She lives there
with her husband Yusuf and his family.
Mangerah matriculated from Zakariyya Muslim School in 2017 with six distinctions.
Her tertiary journey started in 2018 with a BA in English and Linguistics through Unisa.
“I studied this because I love to read. However, I quickly realised that it wasn’t as mentally stimulating as I would have liked it to be, so I switched to a BSc in biochemistry and physiology in 2019 (also through Unisa).
“I completed the BSc in 2021 and graduated cum laude. I was certain that I wanted to study further, so I applied to UKZN and got accepted to study for an Honours degree in medical biochemistry.
“Originally, I vaguely wanted to study medicine because I thought it was the only health-related career that would interest me.
“The field of medical sciences isn’t really presented to us as career options when we’re deciding what to study.
“But once I discovered medical biochemistry, I quickly realised how much I enjoyed it and decided that I wanted to stay in the medical research field,” she said.
Her topic of research involved epigenetics, which is the study of how external environments affect genes and cancer.
Mangerah said studying had always
come easily to her.
“I’ve always enjoyed it. This has definitely played a huge role in my academic success – it’s difficult to excel at something if you don’t enjoy it.
“Another extremely important aspect of excelling academically is remaining motivated.
“You’ll experience setbacks, unexpected bad marks, failed experiments, etc, but keeping your eye on the end goal, not letting it demotivate you, and continuing to work hard is crucial to performing well.”
She said being on campus full-time was the highlight of her academic career.
“Getting to be in the lab every week instead of just a few times a year, making lifelong friendships and being in a class again.
“Another highlight was getting recognised as one of the top 100 female students in a STEM-related degree in 2022.”
Mangerah is pursuing a Master’s degree in medical biochemistry.
“I’d like to eventually further my studies to a PhD and make a significant contribution to medical research.”
Mangerah said she enjoyed reading and reviewing books.
“I also work out regularly; I especially enjoy kickboxing, which is a great stress reliever. I also travel a lot; my parents have taken my siblings and myself to more than 40 countries.”