By Alexandria Gaylard-Ralfe
When I was in highschool, studying neuroscience felt like a distant dream – something I hoped for but never quite believed would become reality. Six months into my Honours year, I still find myself pausing to reflect on how grateful I am to be here, doing work I once thought was out of reach. There is a quiet disbelief that sits alongside the academic stress: I get to study the brain, every single day!
What makes this journey even more meaningful is my research project. I am working to further our understanding of a drug with potential to treat a neurological disorder, the same condition my grandma lived with. Knowing that my work, in however small a way, connects to her experience has given my research a depth of purpose I didn’t expect. My research project feels personal, and that has kept me going on the days when I feel overwhelmed. I’ve also been continually inspired by the professors I’ve had the privilege of learning from this year. Watching them explain such interesting concepts that were previously unkown, and seeing the impact of their work, has shown me what is possible in the neuroscience field, and how exciting it is.
None of this has come easily. Moving to Cape Town and starting at a new university brought its own uncertainty. A new city, new people, new academic culture to adjust to. Layered on top of that, the workload of an Honours year has, at times, felt intense. But my
passion for neuroscience has been the constant that carried me through the harder weeks. When the content excites you, the late nights feel less like a burden and more like an
investment.
Looking back on these first six months, I can say without hesitation that they have solidified what I already suspected, this is exactly where I’m meant to be. One of my favourite parts of this journey has been coming home and explaining what I’ve learned to my family and friends, watching their curiosity grow alongside mine, and realising that this passion is something I want to keep sharing, not just studying.
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