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Dr Katleho Tsilo on graduating medical school: ‘My dream was and still is bigger than my challenges’

14 December 2021 Photo Supplied

For Dr Katleho Tsilo, one of the latest graduates from the University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Health Sciences says graduating from medical school is a dream come true for her and her family.

For Dr Katleho Tsilo, one of the newest graduates from the University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Health Sciences, graduating from medical school does not only represent the answered prayers, persistence and sheer grace, it is also a dream come true for her and her family.

Dr Tsilo graduated on Monday 13 December 2021 during the UFS’ year-end graduating ceremonies.

“It still feels unreal that I was able to overcome the greatest challenge that I was presented with. In my entire medical school career, I have faced many great challenges, from not having any kind of funding at all, to initially not being accepted into medicine to really having to fight for my position each and every semester while also fighting with and for my fellow students in the various leadership positions aforementioned.

“There were moments of weakness where I wished to just quit it all, but with support from the faculty and my family, I managed to hold on. My dream was and still is bigger that any challenge that I have ever encountered,” says Dr Tsilo.

Had various leadership positions

During her student years, this Botshabelo native engaged in various leadership positions. She also had to overcome numerous obstacles including the imposter syndrome. According to her, coming from a poor background, with very little resources, she sometimes felt insecure about what she could offer and what she is capable of. Being a health worker during the COVID-19 pandemic was also very challenging because of the uncertainty of everything and how dangerous the work environment in the hospital was proving to be.

“I was privileged enough to be elected as part of the MSA (Medical Students Association) in the Academics portfolio, this is where I then came up with the idea of collecting textbook donations and gifting the less privileged students. I was also elected to be part of the Residence Committee of the new Health Sciences Residence, in the Finance Portfolio.”

Can’t imagine doing anything else

Though she did not always want to study medicine, she ultimately decided on this field as she could not imagine doing anything else. She believes it is a calling, as she always wanted to live a life full of purpose and helping other people. Helping put a smile on someone’s face when they are going through illness is enough to change one’s life, explains Dr Tsilo about her decision to study medicine. She will be doing her internship at the Leratong Hospital in Krugersdorp, Gauteng.

Dr Tsilo, who is hoping to go into Health Science Education or Public Health, says her motivation comes from her family background. “Having been surrounded by poverty for the greater part of my life pushed me to become the difference. I was and still am determined to not be another statistic. Another thing that really motivates me is being of some help to someone. I cannot change the whole world at one time but I can surely start with one person at a time. I believe so much in the power of giving, whether knowledge, time or resources So much that I started my own foundation: the Open Hands Foundation.”

According to Dr Tsilo, her journey to graduating was intimidating – having to adjust to being a student was already tough, however adjusting to being a medical student proved to be a whole new level of challenging. It came with a lot of late nights and very early mornings, months without seeing her family and having almost no luxurious pastimes.

But she persevered because she always had a goal and was determined to reach it. She had a vision to complete this degree and do it in record time and that’s exactly what she did. “Your vision should always fuel your mission,” says Dr Tsilo.

Besides medicine, her other passions include charity work – something she has been doing right through her student years.

Passion for charity work

“I love charity work and if you did not find me studying, that’s what you would find me, doing. Open Hands is where I exercise this passion. I collect clothes, shoes and food items for the less privileged in our communities.

To students struggling and also facing difficulties, I have this simple message: Don’t stop. Don’t stop working hard, don’t stop hoping and dreaming and if you need help of any kind, it is always available. Know that you are not struggling alone, struggle is part of the journey – it always seems impossible but as long as you don’t stop you will eventually reach your destination.”

Prof Lynette van der Merwe, who took up her new position as Academic Head in the Division Health Sciences Education, Faculty of Health Sciences on 1 December 2021, congratulated the new cohort of UFS doctors and reminded them of the three Cs in the MBChB programme in 2021 – courage, conviction and compassion. She also proposed a new “C” for the year ahead: Character.

“Character is seen in how you treat those who can do nothing for you. It takes time to develop, and only grows through suffering and failing; no shortcuts, no life hacks here. Character makes you seek to be worth knowing, rather than well known. Adam Grant says: ‘Meaning is about making a difference, not having an audience. Your legacy is not how many footprints you leave. It’s how long they last.’ Wherever life takes you from here, whatever happens to you or through you, do what is right, not easy. Be a person of value, not success.”

News Archive

Student leaders 2012/13 announced

2012-08-30

Ready for the task - Sabelo Khumalo, SRC President of the Qwaqwa Campus and William Clayton, SRC President of the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Johan Roux
31 August 2012

The 2012/13 elections for the Student Representative Councils (SRC) of the University of the Free State were completed successfully and show meaningful support for the changes in student governance adopted by students across campuses over the past two years.

The SRC elections at the Qwaqwa Campus were completed on 23 August 2012, while the elections at our Bloemfontein Campus took place on 27 and 28 August 2012.

The SRC Elections at our Bloemfontein Campus showed a voter turnout of 4516 votes (30.8%), with the elections at the Qwaqwa Campuses showing 1753 votes (46%) – both campuses reached the required quorums and the IEA (Bloemfontein Campus) and IEC (Qwaqwa Campus) declared the elections free and fair and announced the results as a true reflection of the will of the student bodies at the campuses.

The full SRC at Bloemfontein Campus now consists of 62% black and 38% white, and 53% female and 47% male members.

In the Qwaqwa elections, SADESMO achieved 46, 38% of the vote, with SASCO, PASMA and NASMO each achieving 30,23% and 8,39% and 14,26%, respectively.

The successful elections at Bloemfontein Campus show that the detailed transformation of student governance introduced by students at the Campus in 2010 and adopted by the university in 2011, succeeded in mobilizing greater participation of students in governance and representation. These changes in the main included a shift to independent candidacy for elective portfolios (12 seats) and organizational candidacy in nine sub-councils that holds ex officio seats on the SRC. Changes also included the establishment of student representative seats in faculty governance and management forums and the adoption of a reviewed Central SRC Constitution. Ex officio seats hold full and equal constitutional authority in the SRC.

Students at Qwaqwa Campus introduced additional portfolios to its SRC, including ex-officio seats for academic affairs, arts and culture, commuter students, Rag Community Service, religious affairs, residences and sports.

A joint sitting of the Campus SRCs will establish the Central SRC 2012/13 on 9 September 2012.

As a further opportunity for participation in and the development of student governance and representation, the current Central SRC herewith also announces its recent adoption of a student governance advisory programme, namely the UFS Student Elders Council (SEC).

The SEC is established as a combined programme between the Central SRC and the Dean of Student Affairs and will consist of selected senior student leaders from all campuses who completed their terms of office, apply and are appointed to the Elders Council by the Central SRC.

The Council will serve as an advisory structure to the Central SRC and other student structures in support of the continuous development of student governance and representation of the student body at the university.

The SEC will advise the Central SRC to be constituted following the constitution of the respective Campus SRCs.

The SRC members at the Bloemfontein Campus are:

President: Mr William Clayton

Vice-President: Mr Bonolo Thebe

Secretary: Ms Karis-Robin Topkin

Treasurer: Mr Pieter Coetzee

Arts & Culture: Ms Chanmari Erasmus

Accessibility & Student Support: Ms Gene McCaskill

First-generation Students: Ms Tanya Calitz

Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Ms Nokuthula Sithole

Media, Marketing & Liaison: Ms Neo Chere

Sport: Mr Tshepo Moloi

Student Development & Environmental Affairs: Ms Thabisile Mgadi

Transformation: Ms Koketso Mofokeng

Dialogue & Ex officio: Associations Council: Mr Anesu Ruswa

Academic Affairs & Ex officio: Academic Affairs Council: Ms Nombuso Ndlovu

Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Residences Council: Mr Johann Steyn

City Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Commuter Council: Mr Michael van Niekerk

Postgraduate Affairs & Ex officio: Postgraduate Council: Mr Fadeyi Akinsuyi

International Affairs & Ex officio: International Council: Ms Tumelo Moreri

Student Media Affairs & Ex officio: Media Council: Mr Jamal-Dean Grootboom

RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Fundraising Council: Mr Jaco Faul

RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Community Service Council: Ms Keneue Mahloana

The SRC members at the Qwaqwa Campus are:

President General: Mr S Khumalo

Deputy President: Mr P T Lenka

Secretary General: Mr D Khethang

Treasurer General: Mr S I Sithole

Media & Publicity: Mr S N Ntombela

Politics & Transformation: Tbc

Student Development & Evironmental Affairs: Tbc Academic Affairs: Mr T Molawude

Arts & Cultural Affairs: Mr T Nkohli

Off-Campus Students: Mr B Mtshali

RAG, Community Service & Dialogue: Ms S F Mlotya

Religious Affairs: Ms D C Khau

Residence & Catering Affairs: Ms Z Mzolo

Sports Council: Mr S Mngomezulu

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