By Lusanda Kunene
Honours in Medical Biochemistry in one of the best universities in the continent, my goodness! It has been such a ride. I mean I did not know what honours year would be like, but boy oh boy it sure did take me by surprise. I was not expecting this, it has been nothing short of terrible. No that’s a joke, really.
Halfway through the year and honours has challenged me in ways I have never imagined. From doubting myself, questioning my decisions, sleepless nights, extremely challenging exams, doing terrible in experiments, feeling completely drained and just so done with everything to embracing not having it all figured out.
A lesson I have learnt so far is that I do not have to know it all, I do not have to have it all figured out. I mean it is called research for a reason! No but seriously, being a person who prefers structure and certainty, I have learnt the hard way that research demands the exact opposite. There are more questions than answers, sometimes even the answers and outcomes raise up more questions. I am learning to let go of my need to control every outcome. Uncertainty is the unavoidable part of research. It is in those moments of uncertainty and questioning where you learn the most.
Okay, now on to the nice stuff. I have met amazing people here. People I have laughed my heart out with, bonded over shared academic trauma with and people I can reach out to for help. Not to mention the academics here who have been incredibly supportive. My goodness, this year has been very challenging. I have been fighting for my life, but I would not have made it this far without God and His unending grace, my family’s support and the friends I have made who brought laughter to even the toughest days.
There are still a few months to go before I wrap up my honours, and I know there will be more challenges. But I know that there will also be more opportunities for me to grow and learn.
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