Sometimes, the best opportunities come when you least expect them. For Khumo Botshelo, a third-year LLB student at the University of Pretoria (UP), the chance to study abroad at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) in the Netherlands was unexpected, yet life-changing.

“The opportunity came by surprise,” Botshelo reflects. “One day during our Law of Evidence class, Professor Anton van der Linde, Head of the Department of Private Law at UP, introduced the exchange programme and said they urgently needed third-year LLB students to study abroad in January 2024. I put my name forward with my academic record, and of the 9 of us who applied, only three were chosen.”

She remembers Prof van der Linde’s encouragement to grab the opportunity. “He said, ‘You’re young, and you’ll have your whole life to graduate — take the chance now.’ That stuck with me.”

“I had always dreamed of travelling abroad, so I went for it, even though I didn’t think I would be selected.”

Botshelo was selected to go to VU Amsterdam while the other students went to other universities. However, due to issues with her visa, her departure was postponed, and she began her exchange in September 2024 instead, continuing until January 2025.

During her semester at VU Amsterdam, she took courses in European and International Law, Robot Law and Artificial Intelligence, and Human Rights and Citizenship. While these courses differed in structure and content from those at UP, she found the academic standards equally rigorous.

“European and International Law was a Master’s level class. It was challenging but so rewarding. What I loved most was the freedom to explore topics and form opinions based on our readings,” she said.

Compared to UP, she says VU has much smaller classes. “At VU, classes were smaller — about 50 students max — and class participation was expected. We had discussions, shared perspectives, and often worked in groups. One of my favourite classes was International Law. We read academic papers in advance and had deep discussions based on our interpretations. The students carried the conversation, with the lecturer guiding us.” Additionally, similar to UP, VU also incorporates digital learning tools where students do assignments, get access to study material and see their marks online.

“Living in Amsterdam was a cultural adventure,” Botshelo said.

“It’s so safe there! You can walk alone at night or use your phone in public, without worrying. That was a shock coming from a country with such high crime rates.”

Other things that took her by surprise were the widespread use of bicycles as the main form of transportation as well as the tone of the Dutch language, which is often mistaken for rudeness.

Outside the classroom, Botshelo made unforgettable memories. One such moment was when she met her former high school English teacher. “It was a beautiful and emotional moment. She moved to the Netherlands when I was in grade 11 and was one of my biggest cheerleaders in school,” she said emotionally.

Another standout moment was meeting Ambassador Vusi Madonsela at the South African Embassy. A surprise encounter that turned into a deep conversation about South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. “It felt surreal. I watched him on YouTube presenting South Africa’s argument, and then there I was, talking to him about it. It was a fangirl moment for sure,” she said.

Moreover, she credits the experience as one that offered her personal growth and clarity about her career. “I had never lived alone before. This exchange taught me how to be responsible, manage finances, and most importantly, believe in myself.”

A class on Robot Law and Artificial Intelligence sparked a passion she hadn’t anticipated. “That class changed everything for me. Every Thursday, I was excited for class. I started planning future research papers, which made me realise — I want to be an AI lawyer. I want to analyse how AI is changing the legal field.”

Botshelo is already thinking about her LLM studies and said she was excited to see how South Africa will approach AI legislation in future.

Despite moments of self-doubt, she walked away from the exchange with confidence, clarity, and a renewed belief in her path.

“I passed all my classes, including a Master’s class, with distinction. I had my family and friends cheering me on from afar, and I pushed through,” she said.

“This journey is proof that I can do hard things. I belong. And I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”