Health Science Reviews

By: Blessing Gumbu

Honours life has been quite interesting, to say the least. It is a significant shift from undergraduate life. I am thrilled to have been accepted into the honours program of my choice, “Neuroscience & Physiology,” as I have always been fascinated by the brain. During my undergraduate years, my goal was to pursue neuroscience at the UCT Neuroscience Institute. I remember spending most of my time at the Institute in my final year; people often mistook me for an honours student, and I frequently had to clarify, “No, I am a prospective honours student.” I vividly recall the day I received a tour of the Institute; I was inspired and mesmerized by its beauty and the diversity within the space. Dr. Hayley, the Scientific Communicator, gave me an NI lanyard after the tour, and the excitement I felt was palpable. I took that lanyard everywhere, often saying, “Manifesting Neuroscience Honours.”

In my undergraduate degree, the main stressor was obtaining good grades to gain entry into this highly competitive program. Now that I have achieved that, I feel profoundly grateful and honoured to be one of the few selected applicants. However, a new kind of stress and perspective has emerged. As a prospective researcher and aspiring neuroscientist, I find myself contemplating the impact I wish to have on the world, particularly in Africa, within the neuroscience field. The focus has shifted from merely achieving perfect grades to considering the broader implications of my work.

The narrative around studying and achieving high scores has changed significantly. Until now, the knowledge I’ve gathered has been valuable and applicable in real-world scenarios, which alters one’s perspective on studying. It is no longer just about cramming or memorizing for perfect grades; it is about prioritizing understanding and examining the broader implications of the concepts taught, while still striving to maintain excellent academic performance. This year, my goal is not only to survive honours and graduate but to leverage the honours experience and research projects to shape my vision for the future and the impact I aspire to drive. I believe this embodies the spirit of the scientists we are becoming.

Another interesting aspect about honours has been the transition from being a mere ‘number’ to becoming a ‘real student.’ There is a strong sense of community within the postgraduate space that fosters healthy collaborations and lasting relationships with fellow students and academics. This experience has been enlightening. In undergrad, it is quite challenging to form such connections because of the large class size and the competitive nature of pursuing a BSc, which is mostly—survival-of-the-fittest scenario. The stress of this environment can lead to feelings of imposter syndrome, which still lingers in honours! Although honours is undoubtedly rigorous and challenging (definitely not a 100% custy, demure or mindful), I had hoped that acceptance into the program would alleviate my imposter syndrome; however, it still affects me from time to time, despite all the achievements surrounding me. Fortunately, being part of a supportive community helps in navigating these feelings and overcoming them. Imposter syndrome often stems from a perception of insignificance compared to others, but funny enough, many of those ‘others’ share similar sentiments. This realization can feel quite ironic. So far, my honours experience has been fantastic, filled with adjustments that prepare me for a career as a scientist, accompanied by personal growth and the formation of valuable friendships within the postgraduate community.

Having a research project and conducting experiments have become a meaningful venture for me. Life in the lab is fascinating, although I sometimes stress about whether I am the right fit for this environment. However, I keep showing up and learning from my incredibly kind teammates, which has made the adjustment process much easier. Even though we did lab work during my undergraduate studies and completed a mini dissertation in my final year, the
experience in honors is quite different. Now, the research is mostly independent, and I am responsible for driving the research, conducting experiments, and handling most of the protocols. Unlike in undergrad, where some of the medium and buffers were prepared for us, here I do everything myself, which helps me acquire essential scientific skills vital for a prospective researcher.

Diving into research has certainly been challenging, but it has also been fulfilling and interesting. This stage prompts important self-reflection: “Do I really want a research career?” Although these deep questions can be stressful, they are crucial for paving a path towards my future vision. The process becomes even more engaging as I witness real-world research and recognize the vast amount of scientific knowledge available, along with the gaps that exist. Scientists continuously strive to address critical questions relevant to society.

Another aspect I’ve started to think about more deeply is how to translate this knowledge into layman’s terms. Ultimately, most lab experiments aim to advance patient health and treatment. Thus, science communication plays a significant role in research—another strong passion of mine, if you will. This kind of critical thinking fosters a mindset conducive to success within the research community. Collaboration has also emerged as an important factor in research. In honours, I’ve seen firsthand the effort and teamwork required in scientific endeavors, as well as the lengthy process it takes to complete experiments successfully. This underscores the importance of collaboration in science, demonstrating that research cannot be done in silos. I am a testament to this principle, having benefited greatly from the people I’ve met and the help I’ve received throughout my undergraduate studies and beyond. Together, we can change the world. As Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

Overall, I continue to receive signals that I am indeed in the right field. I am hopeful, the journey ahead will be filled with challenges, growth, and collaborations. The future is exciting, and I believe neuroscience is my calling.