Sinothando Matsha

Sinothando would like to see a world where everyone gets proper care when it comes to health, even if they do not have money.

Sinothando is studying medicine at Stellenbosch University (SU). She matriculated at Soqhayisa Senior Secondary School in Motherwell, Eastern Cape.

“You will be an achiever if you believe in yourself and are disciplined in everything you do.”

Explain why you chose the course/s you are studying?

I chose to study medicine because I want to save lives. Another reason is that I want to work after I am done with my medical studies, as we know that most people do not work after they have graduated due to the absence of jobs. Lastly, I can say I am doing this course since there are fewer females who are doing medicine.

Who or what inspired you to pursue these studies?

I am inspired by one of the doctors who was attending the same programme as me in high school, known as the Kutlwanong Promaths Society Programme. I am also inspired by my maths teacher telling me that I have good results and that I can be a good doctor. She was also telling me that if I can be a medical doctor, I will be able to save the lives of people who are unable to pay for private health care.

What would you like to see changed in the world, and how do you see yourself contributing to such a change?

I would want everyone to get proper care when it comes to health, even if they do not have money Most people in the rural areas do not get the help they are supposed to get since there is a smaller number of doctors.

Where did you complete your schooling? (name of school and area where it is situated) Tell us a bit about this school and your teachers.

I completed my matric at Soqhayisa Senior Secondary in the Eastern Cape in a township known as Motherwell. It is one of the top performing school as it achieved a 100% pass rate for four consecutive years. It has teachers who love their work and who sacrifice their time with their family just to teach learners. Just to make sure that all of us as learners pass so that we can have good marks that will make us qualify for any course that we want.

What did you enjoy about physical science and maths at school?

The thing that I enjoyed most about physical science and maths is that it makes you think out of the box, and that is what I actually like. I love to solve complex problems that make me think a little bit and move out of my comfort zone. The most important thing that I enjoyed about these subjects is that I was taught by many teachers from the Kutlwanong Programme. I enjoyed being taught by many teachers because they make you understand the concept from all angles, and they teach you many ways of solving the problems.

Why do you think some people have problems doing well in maths and science? What advice do you have for school learners who struggle with these subjects?

Some people have problems with these subjects because they have the mentality that these subjects are hard and are for smart people. There is no way in which you can pass a subject if you have negative thoughts about it. The reason why I am saying this is because if you know you will do badly in something, you will not even have the energy to study it; you will just go and write the test without studying. So what I can advise people who are not doing well in these subjects is to be positive about themselves and remember that there is no subject that is made for certain people. If you are positive about passing these subjects, you will push yourself and even ask for help if you experience difficulties; there is actually no way in which you can fail these subjects if you are working hard. You also need to set some goals for what marks you are aiming to get. What I know is that there is no one who wants to disappoint themselves, so when you have goals you will work hard so that you can reach the goals you have set for yourself.

Any tips for learners in grades 11 and 12?

What I can say to grade 11 and grade 12 is that they must not relax; they must start now on being serious and on trying to cover as much work as they can. The reason I am saying this is because studying at the last minute is not good at all; it can make you forget important things and make mistakes while writing. Lastly, I want to tell them that the decision they are making now is the one that will determine their future and will tell if they qualify for university or not, so they must be focused even if it seems early.

What advice do you have for matriculants who have to apply for places in higher education institutions?

I can advise matriculants to check the courses they want to do in university and check the minimum requirements for the courses they want to do. After they have done that, they should make sure that on every test they are writing, they do not get something that is below the minimum requirements. They should get more than the requirements, as we know that the competition is quite high out there; everyone wants to be in varsity. Lastly, when they get to the university environment, they must not forget to remain disciplined.

Understanding excellence – what makes an achiever?

You will be an achiever if you believe in yourself and if you are disciplined on everything that you do.

A message to South African youth in general?

Education is there for everyone, and you must use the opportunity that you are given wisely because there are people who do not have the privilege to study but do want to study. You also have to remember that it is for everyone; no one is not made for education, and one thing for sure – no one can take the education away from you.

A message to the teachers at your school/s?

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all my teachers who have sacrificed their time so that I can get a proper education without even being paid for the extra time. They have really played a big role in my life and I am here because of them. Without them, I don’t know where I would have been. Once more, I would like to say thank you to Kutlwanong and Investec who have played a big role in providing us with extra classes without paying for anything; without that programme, I don’t know how I would have survived. I am so grateful for everything they have done for me.

If you had ONE opportunity to speak directly to a very influential person, who would you choose and what would you say to them?

I can choose to speak to Luxolo Mdolo[1], a medical intern and content creator for social media. I want to thank him for the words he always gives us; the motivation he gives us is the one that kept me going.

[1] See A premium on academic excellence | UCT News. Luxolo studied for his Honour degree under Dr Rachael Dangarembizi, a 2025 NSTF-South32 Award winner.

National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)