Crawford Times - Summer Edition 2020 (2)

ALUMNI FEATURE
actively participate in pageants
that empower young ladies to use
their voices for change.
Even more impressive is that
you’re also studying medicine
– you’re in your 4th year now.
Which area of medicine are you
pursuing?
I’m currently studying to attain
a degree in general medicine
as a whole and so specialising
will be in a couple of years from
now. At this exact moment my
heart is really drawn to obstetrics
and gynaecology. Since I’m in
4th year and there’s still so much
medicine to learn, so this might
change. I find this discipline
so interesting and the first time
I witnessed a C-section I was
overwhelmed by emotion – it felt
like an epiphany moment and
made me feel like THAT is what I
wanted to do for the rest of my life.
The birth of a child is such a lifechanging
moment for both the
mother and father and the idea
of acquiring the skills, knowledge
and responsibility to safely deliver
a new life is something I definitely
am interested in.
If we come to check-in on you in
five years, what do you hope to
have achieved?
In five years’ time, I will be 27 years
old and will have just completed
my community service years as a
general practitioner and will be
choosing a specialty in medicine.
I would also like to have entered
Miss South Africa and won in
any one of the coming five years.
I would be using this platform
to share my story with others
– hopefully a story that would
inspire others to be courageous
in pursuit of their dreams
despite their background. I really
believe that transparency in this
generation is so important and
I’d like to be as real as possible
in sharing my life experiences,
the traumas, the successes, the
pain, and the tribulations that
molded me into the lady that I
am today. I would also like to have
30 | Crawford Times
used this platform to expand
my Dance4Justice campaign.
Haha…and on an even more
personal level, I’m actually also a
hopeless romantic and hope to
have found the love of my life!
How did Crawford prepare you
for the path you’ve taken?
I really thank my mom for keeping
me in Crawford College. My
mother is a single mom and her
decision in keeping both my sister
and I at Crawford Pretoria was
a sacrifice that I am so grateful
for! The academic standard
that Crawford Pretoria held was
always very high and it forced
me to work extremely hard to
achieve the results that I wanted
in my school years. Work ethic is
so important to maintain as it is
often the key to many doors you
deeply desire to open. Working
hard became a norm and this
really helped me adjust to the
pressures at university – university
felt like something I could handle.
Crawford also embraced the
uniqueness and diversity of each
student and I only realised the
true value of this when I entered
university. I wasn’t afraid to be
my authentic self in a room full of
people different to me. There were
also a few teachers who always
believed in me and didn’t limit
my capabilities. I persevered and
through the 12 years of being
in Crawford, the countless extra
lessons and my mom’s support, I
am where I am today. I will always
carry Crawford and all the lessons
it taught me proudly in my heart.
What are three daily habits you
swear by?
Praying, having that 10-minute
Beyonce concert I mentioned
earlier, and going for a quick run in
the morning before the day starts.
TOFE’S FAVOURITES…
Favourite song? ‘Got to be real’
by Chery Lynn
Favourite thing to do (if you’re
not wearing a crown or
studying)? Shopping!
Favourite way to start the day?
Taking a jog with a friend
Favourite way to end the day?
Taking a long hot shower and
snuggling into bed with a warm
cup of chamomile tea
Favourite meal? Waffles with
ice-cream and syrup
Favourite famous person?
Zozibini Tunzi
Favourite place in the world?
Dubai