‘TUKS of NIKS!’ says Liam Wilkinson, top achiever and future medical student at UP

Looking back on his 2025 matric year, Wilkinson says the moment he opened his final results remains one of his proudest. 

“Realising that all the early mornings, late nights and sacrifices actually paid off was incredibly rewarding,” he says. “More than the marks, I was proud that I stayed disciplined and consistent throughout the year, even when it got tough.”

He achieved distinctions in all seven of his subjects, but he is particularly proud of Mathematics, Accounting, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences. He attributes his success to strong time management, consistent practice and a willingness to ask for help when needed. 

“Doing past papers and asking teachers and friends for help when I didn’t understand something made a big difference,” he explains.

Balancing academia with a busy sporting schedule was not without its challenges. As an active rugby and cricket player, Wilkinson often had to juggle a heavy workload with training and matches. 

“There were weeks when everything happened at once,” he recalls. “Sport taught me resilience, and that mindset helped me push through academically as well.”

Beyond the classroom, Wilkinson believes sport, friendships and creative outlets such as playing the guitar and running have played a key role in shaping him. 

“To me, success isn’t just about marks, it’s about becoming a well-rounded person,” he says.

Throughout his school journey, he drew inspiration from his parents and teachers, who supported him during moments of self-doubt. 

“They kept me motivated when I felt overwhelmed and reminded me to keep going,” he says.

Wilkinson chose to study at UP because of its strong reputation in medical training. 

“I believe UP is one of the best universities to study medicine at – TUKS of NIKS,” he says, adding that he is particularly excited about residence life at House Ukuthula and the opportunity to meet like-minded students.

As he begins his journey at UP, Wilkinson hopes to grow into a focused, caring and confident medical professional. 

“I want to build a solid foundation in medicine while staying active, connecting with new people and learning from different perspectives,” he says.

He also shares a light-hearted personal detail: “I’m actually a natural blonde; and I don’t bleach my hair.”