Honors Link

Fear is temporary, but regret is forever. That was the slogan for the Bloukrans bungee jumping advertisements that got me to go for it. Prior to arriving, I did not think I would actually jump off the highest bungee in the world. Once there, however, I thought back to all my early fears of what being in South Africa might be like and how none of my worries had proved true. I had conquered those initial worries and worked hard to overcome the obstacles it took to intern in Africa, and I felt I could not pass up the opportunity to conquer another fear. I decided to jump. The first two seconds were terrifying, but afterwards came a strange calm followed by an extreme adrenaline rush. I was on the top of the world. I knew that if I conquered that initial fear, I could do anything I set my mind to.

During the ten weeks I spent in South Africa on a pre-med rotation through Child Family Health International and IE3 Global Internships, the moments where I learned the most were when I placed myself outside my comfort zone and took leaps of faith. Cape Town and Durban were not what I imagined before arriving, but both places far exceeded what I expected. I learned to anticipate plans falling apart and to embrace the uncomfortable moments. There were little fears I had to overcome, like feeling hesitant about approaching a doctor, answering questions during ward rounds, or starting up conversations with patients in my limited Zulu or Afrikaans. Despite my initial hesitations, I always felt it was well worth it when, to my surprise, it was simple acts and small moments that taught me something valuable or that sparked long-lasting relationships.

South Africa taught me a great deal about the human spirit and its resilience in the face of challenges. From patients, I learned the importance of compassion and kind gestures in the practice of medicine. I heard different patients’ stories about the hardships they endured from illness and how they still managed to smile each day. From compassionate doctors, I learned that despite the difficulties of the job, the patient always comes first, and these doctors would make sure they treated every patient no different than they would their own mothers. All the people I encountered during my stay had their own stories, and I felt so privileged to learn about their rich culture and hear firsthand accounts of the apartheid era. In the final week of my internship, I was present for Nelson Mandela’s passing. As I joined a memorial celebration in his honor, I could not help but look with great admiration at such a strong country that overcame a tumultuous history and continued to move forward in the unity that Madiba left behind.

After returning home, I still feel deeply inspired by the people I met on my internship and very grateful for the many learning experiences I had. I have since had time to reflect on my trip, from the initial difficulties of making it happen, to actually arriving at the country, to the sad goodbyes, and all the wonderful moments in between. This trip and all the great experiences that came with it would not have been possible without the aid of the Honors College Experience Scholarship, for which I am very grateful. I feel more passionate than ever to pursue a career in medicine, and I know that everything I learned in the hospitals, clinics, and outside of the workplace will be of great value to achieving my career goals as a physician. One of the many great things this internship has left me with is a newfound courage to face the many fears and challenges of life. I have learned that it is often from the moments of discomfort or unfamiliarity where we gain the most insight and build the strongest character. South Africa left me with many strong and resilient people to look up to and many experiences from which to draw the courage to face any fear.