Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Nursing student takes part in global contest
DALISO Khumalo, a third-year nursing student from Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Campus of the KZN College of Nursing, has made it to the provincial finals and will take part in the 46th International WorldSkills South Africa national competition.
The 22-year-old from Mtubatuba, Northern KZN, is among four finalists selected to participate at the provincial competition last week and was awarded a postgraduate bursary to further her studies.
She now has her sights set on the national finals.
Khumalo said she chose nursing because she had a compassionate nature and sympathy for others.
“I like helping people because makes me feel good about myself.
“I was also inspired by my mother, who is a nurse, and I have always looked up to her as my role model,” said Khumalo, adding that she was excited to have been awarded the bursary.
“The bursary was such a surprise to me, I can’t even explain it. I think I will use it to study further and get an advanced diploma in midwifery,” said Khumalo.
"I have always loved to help people and I’m shy by nature, but the competition has helped me overcome this.
“Taking part in this WorldSkills competition has pushed me beyond my boundaries and I am more confident now.”
“The thought of being a nurse never crossed my mind, but after matric I was doing a degree in social work and stopped because of financial issues.
“I dropped out and applied for a bursary to study nursing as my second choice. I’m really grateful that I ended
up doing nursing,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo and three other winners will battle it out at the national competition in Durban later this year and the selected final team will represent South Africa at the 46th WorldSkills competition in Shanghai, China, in October.