Tiisetso Modjetsi, a final-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) in the School of Medicine at the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Health Sciences, shares a remarkable journey of resilience, perseverance, and triumph. Despite facing academic challenges, financial hardships, and setbacks, Tiisetso's story is a testament to the indomitable spirit that pushes individuals toward their goals.

I successfully completed grade twelve with a bachelor's, achieving three distinctions and an average of 76. I received prize money from the University of Pretoria and gained acceptance for BSc Biological Sciences, although my initial choice was medicine, for which I was rejected.

After six months in the BSc programme, I was accepted into medicine during the second semester on the same day as my AIM supplementary exam.

In the second year, I faced challenges, failing anatomy, microbiology, and pathological conditions (4a and 4b), resulting in my first exclusion letter. I was accepted to return but faced another setback, failing microbiology and receiving a second exclusion letter. Despite these difficulties, I persevered, utilising NSFAS as my sponsor, however said they can't pay for me for the years I am repeating.

From the third year onward, my journey took a positive turn. I secured a job as an IT assistant and regained my original sponsor, although I had to forego NSFAS.

Now, eight years later, I find myself in the final year, battling financial issues. My sponsors, who took me back in the third year, haven't paid anything for the year. Despite not receiving money for rent or a living allowance, I managed to pay rent and afford necessities, thanks to my job as an IT assistant.

Although my journey took longer than average, I am proud to declare that I have made it to the finish line."