Shasha Scholar : Mkudzei launches Health Care training program for Young Women
Mkudzei Watambgwa
While I valued all aspects of the Shasha Bridge program one of the most important components of it for me was the reflection. I had always believed I was on the “right” path to achieving my dream of becoming a physician which translated to simply doing well in school. It was only in the daily routine of writing down my personal goals, passion, & values, that I came to the stark & frankly scary realization that I had become complacent; I was not challenging myself.
Like many young Africans, I had focused on pursuing one specialized career path & I felt the need to ensure all my studies & hobbies were healthcare-adjacent in one way or another. It was only in the exposure to mentoring, guest speaker sessions with experts from various fields as well as hearing the stories of fellow scholars, that I realized how many different fields young people today have the option of entering. It was not only beneficial but vital that I keep an open mind in exploring new passions.
The dedication of my fellow scholars, many of whom come from similar backgrounds as myself as leaders in their communities & interests, compelled me to start the first Zimbabwean Chapter of Girls In White Coats, a female-led international organisation that provides young women with the tools & support they need to pursue careers in healthcare. This helped me to delve deeper into a pre-existing love for healthcare. On the other hand, I found a newfound passion for environmental advocacy — a field highly publicized at a global level but that is under-prioritised in Zimbabwe. This motivated me to use the 9-month break before university to work with an advocacy group known as Start With You to educate many Zimbabweans who, like me, did not understand the urgency of introducing sustainable practices in households, businesses & most surprisingly to healthcare.
In addition to my Mathematics, Biology, & Chemistry subjects, I took on the less conventional Global Perspectives A level course, researching everything from Traditional African healing to the role of monarchs in modern society. While I had initially planned on going straight into a medical degree at a local University, the Shasha Bridge Program pushed & equipped me with the necessary tools to expand my goals, helping me to be accepted to 2 UK medical schools as well as Yale-NUS in Singapore, a liberal arts college where I hope to explore my newfound love of research in September.
This is a path that just a year ago, I would have never considered taking. I initially felt broadening my horizons would distract me from my love of medicine but it has only helped deepen my understanding of it, which I truly believe will only work to ensure I can contribute more meaningfully to the multi-disciplinary field of healthcare.
