Bridging the gap between upper campus and the health sciences

When Blessing Gumbu’s name was announced as a Student Leader Award winner, he thought he’d misheard. It took a second calling and the cheers of his team to register it was his name being called into the airy space of UCT’s Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika). Here, UCT luminaries and students had gathered to celebrate individual students and student teams for their leadership contribution in terms of community, social justice, health and media.

“I thought it can’t be me. No way. I am just Blessing,” he said, shaking his head as we sat chatting in a quiet corner of the New Lecture Theatre atrium. 

Now an honours student in biomedical sciences and celebrating his graduation with a BSc in Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Biochemistry; Blessing said leadership is about serving, inclusivity, bringing about change and being a voice for others, especially those unable to speak out themselves.

“You are mostly there to help,” he said. “It is not about glory, but serving others and helping students feel welcome and relaxed at fun events.”

Opening doors to Health Sciences societies

A would-be medical student since high school with a passion for the human brain and with the goal of becoming a neuroscientist and neurosurgeon, Blessing had set his sights on joining the Faculty of Health Sciences’ societies, such as the UCT Surgical Society, which enables students to shadow surgeons from first year.

However, such societies traditionally welcomed Health Sciences students only.

“I loved my science degree, but, like many others, it was not my first choice. My passions were health related, and I was aware there were other students who’d actively chosen to study science, who were also interested in Health Sciences societies.”

I went back and reread my motivation letter and I thought: ‘Actually, I deserve it’.”

Having talked his way into the Surgical Society, he set about advocating for the inclusion of all interested members, and in 2023 the society started recruiting on upper campus.

By third year, Blessing was the secretary general of the UCT Surgical Society, events collaborations coordinator of the Cortex (Neuroscience) Club, and subcommittee head for the Students’ Health and Welfare Centre’s Organisation’s (SHAWCO) Tuesday clinics, and driving to open doors for those ‘who would love to be members’.

In his award motivation letter, he wrote: “Through my involvement as the secretary of the Surgical Society, I have managed to recruit science students and students from other faculties interested in surgery to join the club.”

Here he created a safe space for those students to voice concerns in terms of inclusivity.

Circling back to his leadership award, he noted: “I was in denial at first, but then I went back and reread my motivation letter and I thought: ‘Actually, I deserve it’.”

Love the degree you’re in

So often in high school, learners are only exposed to the professional degrees. For most top learners, the automatic options are doctor, engineer or lawyer, said Blessing, and it can feel like failure when you don’t get accepted to study those disciplines.

“My advice is don’t feel like it’s the end of the world. If, like me, you get accepted into a BSc instead of medicine, don’t look at it as a setback, but take the opportunity to consider if you really want to be a doctor. As you progress, you may decide you don’t want to see patients but prefer research. 

“At school no one says you can be a scientist.”

Embrace student leadership

His involvement in society leadership roles at UCT has been a wonderful journey filled with growth, learning, engagement with students and different leadership structures, he noted.

Having been involved in leadership roles since high school, and in a UCT residence too, Blessing said it helps balance one’s routine, meet inspirational people (he has met Nobel-winning scientists and legendary doctors), make connections, and most importantly bring change, help others and make sure everyone’s voice is heard.

It also provides a social life, time to relax and flex your creative abilities.

“Aside from the life skills learned through inviting speakers or resolving conflict, it balances academia. As a top student and super competitive, people say I am a nerd, but I have a life through societies, and it’s fun.”

Sometimes the journey is not a straight road

Now busy with honours in biomedical sciences, specialising in neuroscience and physiology, Blessing is still focused on his long-term goal.

“What’s the dream? It’s to be a well-known neuroscientist and neurosurgeon.”

To this end, Blessing has his sights set on the University of the Witwatersrand’s Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP), which allows suitably qualified applicants to enter the third year of an MBChB degree.

It is a long journey from his days at Molelwane Secondary School in Mahikeng, where he was determined to put the school on the map with his matric result (which garnered two awards: Top Performing Learner in Quartile 3 Schools and Top 10 Learner in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district), and by tutoring others to do well.

It was his principal who sponsored his bus trip to Cape Town and arranged for a friend, Kefitlhile Mpolokeng, to collect the young Blessing from the station and drive him to UCT, his dream university, where he started out, far from home and knowing no-one.

“Being here was a big wow! It really is the best university in Africa.”

My advice? Always ask for help

Mhunhu munhu ne vangwe vanhu. This Shona proverb translates to people are gregarious and need each other to survive, said Blessing.

“Never be afraid to ask for help because you cannot do university alone.”

There is a long list of people to whom Blessing feels gratitude, which includes his mother, ever supportive in difficult times, Mpolokeng, who has supported him since he arrived in Cape Town, and family, friends, teachers and all at UCT, without whom he would not have got this far.

“Believe in yourself and anything is possible. Remember God is by your side. I would never have imagined a small boy like me from a rural area would have accomplished so much by now, but guess what? I did! Thank you.”

Follow Blessing’s journey, and the inspirational journeys of others, on his Youtube channel @BSc Chronicles.