THUSO MAHLATJI
Achiever of the week: Thuso Mahlatji
May 06, 2021 | By Nqobile Mdima
This week’s feature is Thuso Mahlatji. Thuso is from South Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Clínical Medical Practice from The University of Witwatersrand (Wits). After graduating from Wits she worked at a clinic in Free State- mainly seeing patients with chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hypertension and Diabetes. She also had an opportunity to complete a course in Male Medical Circumcision (MMC) training by CHAPS . Thereafter Thuso studied a year of Chinese medical literacy and HSK in Shandong University. She is currently pursing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in Xi’an Jiaotong University. Thuso excells academically and she's a proud member of the Golden Key International Society. So far she has travelled to China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Qatar. Thuso has a passion for women’s health and God willing, she would like to pursue a PhD in Reproductive Medicine so that she will be able to help as many people as possible and better assess complicated cases of infertility and so forth.
Thuso shares her journey to pursue her dream career, her highlights and lowlights as an international student, funding opportunities, her travel experiences, advice for those who feel like giving up on their dream career and her future plans.
Was it always your goal to move abroad to study or work?
Yes, absolutely.
Why did you decide to study abroad and why did you choose China?
I wanted to experience life in a different country. At the time there was a large group of South African students applying to Chinese universities and so I gave it a shot and got accepted.
Did you find the preparation process to move abroad easy or difficult? (University application, Visa application, packing, leaving your family behind etc.)
The process to move was anticipated. I knew a few months prior that I would be moving and so I was mentally prepared for the transition.
Visa applications were not complicated at all. I think the best way is to always make sure you have all the required documents in order.
Are you funding your own studies or do you have a scholarship?
1. I am studying through a Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC).
South African applicants can contact:
Internationalscholarships@dhet.gov.za
2. For scholarships to Canada , Netherlands South Korea , Mauritius,Taiwan ,Russia etc find the link below:
http://www.internationalscholarships.dhet.gov.za/
How long did it take you to adjust to living in China and what do you do for fun?
It took me about 6 months to adapt to the lifestyle. I usually go out with friends to try new dishes, go to the cinema, watch concerts and The Magic Dancing Waters at Dayanta. I also play football in the University’s females team.
What are your highlights as an international student studying in China?
Having an opportunity to interact with students from a diverse educational and cultural background coming from all around the world. This interaction has definitely made me an open minded person. I also just love celebrating birthdays with my friends from Chad, Jordan, Nepal, Portugal and Zambia.
I studied Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for about 6 months and it was quite interesting. It's basically a broad range of medicine practices that includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture and cupping therapy. I believe most foreigners living in China have at least tried the acupuncture needle therapy, including myself.
What are your low lights as a International medical student?
I would have to say that one of the challenges when doing clinical rotations at the hospital is the language barrier between students and patients. Most patients don’t speak English so you would have to learn medical tepatient Mandarin to better understand the needs of your patient. It is advisable to obtain an HSK 4/5 prior, which usually helps with your Chinese proficiency.
How many countries have you travelled to so far?
I have travelled to four countries; China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Qatar. I came to China in 2015 and my experience throughout the years has been phenomenal. As a student living on a budget it's quite convenient and affordable to get around. This gave me an opportunity to travel around Shaanxi (Xi’an, Baoji), Beijing ( The Great Wall, Tiananmen Square), Shandong (Weifang, Qingdao,Tai’an ), Nanjing, Dalian and Haikou Sanya just to mention a few of my favorite travel destinations. The great thing about making traveling arrangements to these ancient and modern destinations is that it can easily be accessible on Wechat. The APP includes flight/train tickets and hotel bookings.
How has Covid-19 affected your studies?
In the beginning of online classes there was a lot of trial and error and uncertainty. The transition took me a while to adapt to. But I had to remind myself that these are unprecedented times and to maintain a steady focus. I also found comfort in that I wasn’t alone. It was a global academic shift to a new reality.
What are your future plans?
I have a passion for women’s health and God willing, I would like to pursue a PhD in Reproductive Medicine. It’s a subspecialty of Obstetrics & Gynaecolgy. Through this speciality I’ll be able to help as many people as possible and better assess complicated cases of infertility and so forth.
Any words of encouragement for those who’ve given up on the their career path?
Do not settle for a job or a career you’re not happy in. It’s never too late to study whatever you’re passionate about. And remember, just because you took longer than others doesn’t mean you’ve failed. This year marks 10 years of my journey in medical school. It’s been a bumpy road and a challenge especially now with the pandemic going on but quitting is never an option. As Carlton Fisk once said; "It's not what you achieve, it's what you overcome. That's what defines your career."
