While most people her age are either busy completing their degrees or figuring out what career path they want to follow, Thibela has been on the frontline at Helen Joseph Hospital in Joburg saving lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.
At 21, Thibela has a huge amount of responsibility. And while it’s been a tough few months, she’s taken it all in her stride. Thibela has been trending on social media in the past two weeks, after she was lauded as one of the country’s youngest ever doctors.Asked how she felt about achieving such a monumental feat, she said it still hadn’t sunk in.
Thibela, who grew up in Violetbank, a rural village in Bushbuckridge, in Mpumalanga, said it has always been her dream to become a doctor. At Lehlasedi High School, Thibela skipped Grade 9 too and matriculated at the age of 15, with seven distinctions out of eight subjects. She then went to Wits, where she earned Golden Key International Membership.
“I struggled to express myself in group settings and that affected me a lot when I got to my clinical years because being confident and able to express yourself was what was needed. I’d always be told to be more confident and speak up because I know the answers. I’m still trying to overcome it.”Thibela, said this was not only a huge achievement for her, but for the village she comes from too.
SaturdayStar Wowww. Inspirational indeed. I hope she goes back home to encourage the kids and most importantly to thank her teachers for believing in her.
SaturdayStar 21yrs? Yerr I was still deciding what do with my life
SaturdayStar Great news
SaturdayStar How long did she study for? What age did she start? Asking for a friend...!
SaturdayStar So proud👌
SaturdayStar This one ebe jola nee ncwadi qha. 🙊 No other distructions. Be at 21 be at 51 anything as usaphefumula is possible if you are focused.
SaturdayStar Wow 21 years