University of the Western Cape

The University of the Western Cape (UWC). Where do I even start? As a current student completing my BSc (Hons) degree in medical bioscience, my decision to complete another year at this prestigious tertiary institution stems not only from my personal liking to this university, but because my area of study, thus the faculty of science itself, is one of the best on the African continent given the well-established scientific visionaries that has paved the way for themselves and others that follow in their footsteps, with one similar ultimate goal altogether - to help make a difference in people's lives on local and international scales.

The UWC has played an immense role in the generation of graduates that continue to represent the institution's moral values in their respective work disciplines in the past, most definitely at present, and of course in the future. Thus, it is unsurprising that the university holds a plethora of accomplishments and has boasted an international reputation, of which many internationally-acclaimed universities have sought and are always seeking partnerships in various academic outputs such as research, interdisciplinary collaborations, and student exchange programs, amongst others. Given this, the UWC has succeeded in many areas and is one of the reasons students opt for their higher education here.

The UWC is especially a very historically important institution since it played a critical role in South African history where it was the only institution at the time to accommodate persons of different races and, to this day, is a strong foundation on which the university was built as can be seen by the diversity that stretches across the campus acres. This is testament to those who have constantly fought for equality and morals which is evident in the student life today.

From my personal experience, I decided on the UWC because of my penchant for medical research, especially with an emphasis on medical microbiology. The UWC science faculty is one of the best on the African continent winning multiple awards, garnering international acclaim, and of course, for the publications of thousands of articles in famous international journals. This is my initial goal, to become an acclaimed researcher in this discipline and supplement the growing body of knowledge that others have laid before me, and that I am laying for others who are going to continue this legacy. This is especially important, not only for myself as it is one of my ambitions, but for this legacy to continue it needs to be nurtured at an institution where other researchers have left their mark. The UWC hold this legacy and has seen everyone's contributions since its inception. Apart from science, the UWC has garnered international acclaim from the law, computer science, and even the arts faculties, with these students continuing to succeed in various areas of academics and applications.

What I've especially come to know is that UWC does not only create a typical graduate, but it creates leaders at the same time. We need leaders in every aspect of this world, and leadership is taken very seriously since the UWC teaches us to help our communities at local level and thus our continent as a whole. Not many universities establishes this principle in their graduates, but given the UWC's role in South Africa's academic history, especially the leaders who have fought for the construction of this institution and instilling the necessary values and morals needed for a university to grow generation after generation, and even at present, leadership is a crucial factor that students graduate with and becomes such an inherent quality for them to lead others in multiple aspects of what humans face daily.

In light of the above, I've been there. I know exactly how a first year student feels. I know the struggles. I know that blissful feeling to crash on a bed after a long day of lectures. I know it all. But at the end of the day, this is all worth it - this is part of your legacy. This is the journey that must happen for you to rise up and show your efforts to this ever-changing world. And for this to happen, your journey starts from an institution that many great legends have walked, and what you will potentially lead on.

Thus, in light of all this and more, the UWC has served its purpose and has supplemented me with the vital skills, knowledge, experience, and opportunities that has led me up unto this moment and has literally been the vehicle to my future career. I have chosen the oasis of learning, and I am ready to tackle the world.