From her BSc Honours in Animal Science to a soon-to-be awarded MSc (with distinction), Khutso Mamabolo has spent years growing, learning, and achieving at North-West University’s Mahikeng Campus. In this interview, she shares the heart of her academic journey and why NWU will always feel like home.

What inspired you to study Animal Science, and what led you to choose NWU Mahikeng for both of your degrees?

I’ve always been a lover of animals from a young age, so it was such a delight to find a field of study that I could use to channel my passion into a career. The reason I chose NWU, particularly Mahikeng Campus, was partly because at the time of my 1^st year undergrad, I was fortunate to have my older sister as a student doing her Honour’s degree there, so having her there made the move from home to North West easier. The words my grandmother gave me during that time also stuck with me and gave me the courage to leave my hometown of Mankweng and travel all the way to North West, she said “go and put yourself out there, I’ll miss having you home, but I want you to go out there, learn, and grow, I know you can do it!”. With a support system and words of affirmation like that, my fear turned into courage, which is why I did not even hesitate to pursue my 2^nd degree at the NWU Mahikeng Campus, because the NWU was more than just a University, it was and always will be my home.

What were some of the most defining moments during your time at NWU, those experiences that shaped who you are?

I remember during my 1^st year of undergrad when I achieved my first overall module pass with distinction, I could not believe how I passed so well, especially since the module scared me so much when I began the semester. The other moment that comes to mind was during my 2^nd year of undergrad, I passed my very first test in Animal Nutrition with a mark of about 60%, I distinctly remember talking to my lecturer, who actually became my MSc supervisor years later, that the mark I got for that test was not my full capability and that I will improve, sure enough, from the 2^nd test until the end of the semester, I managed to push my average to almost 80%, that’s when I knew that if I put my mind, time and effort into something, I can achieve my goals. There are countless experiences, from poor scores, to being nominated as class rep for essentially most of my undergrad module classes, to having the honour of being a tutor to undergraduate BSc Honour’s degree in Animal Science and so much more, each and every experience I’ve had at the NWU has shaped me into the person that I am today, and that’s something I will forever be grateful for.

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NWU is known for being a place where students feel they belong. Was there a specific moment or experience when you realised this was true for you too?

The realisation that the NWU is the place where I belong hit me the moment I went to campus with my older sister for registration. I walked onto campus and suddenly felt all the nerves I had slowly evaporate. I remember all the smiling faces, the warmth and welcome the Campus had, and it made me feel so much better. Although there were no familiar faces, I could spot newbies like myself scattered all over campus with the annual first years welcome T-shirts, seeing how nervous and excited they looked made it a little easy to strike up conversations with each other during orientation week, and that was how I made my first varsity friend, who I actually still am friends with even today! The NWU made it so easy for me to meet people, whether through orientation, talent shows, activations, sports events, and so much more, and that is why I felt like I belong and fit into the very diverse community of the NWU.

You’re about to graduate for the second time , and with distinction! What does this achievement mean to you personally?

This achievement means everything to me. I thank God all the time. I think a lot of people can relate with the feeling of being unsure if they will manage to handle the joys and the pressures of their field of study, so for me to graduate for my 1^st degree with distinction felt like a literal dream, seeing all the blood, sweat and tears (all literally, this field of study comes with occasional animal-related injuries) I put in, come back and find out I’m graduating with distinction felt amazing. Pursuing a Master’s degree already takes so much courage, dedication, patience, time and sacrifices; therefore, even simply submitting my dissertation and passing the requirements of the degree is a huge accomplishment, now that I’m graduating once again with distinction has cemented my capabilities and the passion I have for Animal Science. I’ve always wondered what I would do if I did not graduate twice with distinction. I guess we’ll never know.

If you could write a letter to your first-year self, what would it say?

My letter to my first-year self would simply say: “I know you are nervous to take this leap, but trust me, you will achieve so many goals, you will fail to reach some goals, but it will all be worth it. In the words of your favourite TV series character, Dr. Cristina Yang: “Have some fire, be unstoppable, be a force of nature”. Put yourself out there, even when you feel afraid. Do it scared, do it anyway. You got this!”.

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Who were the people – lecturers, roomies, friends, classmates, mentors – who made the biggest impact on your journey at NWU?

To start with, all of this would not have been possible without God and His mercy. My grandmother, older sisters, best friend, cousins and relatives, friends, and colleagues all played a huge role in my journey. Their words of encouragement, love, support and care allowed me to keep my spirits up even when I felt hopeless in certain situations. Being a student takes a lot from you mentally and even physically, but having the support and cheers from loved ones, friends, colleagues, and even total strangers really helps keep your morale up to reach for greatness.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in Animal Science – or even someone still unsure about their path?

The advice I’d give is to trust the process, there will certainly be many ups during your journey, but there will be just as many downs, allow yourself to make mistakes, that is how we learn, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Focus on yourself, don’t let anyone dampen your goals. There will be countless points in time on your path that will make you feel uncertain about where you are going, but know that there will also be moments that will reassure you and make you believe in yourself even more. Take the good with the bad, it will all be worth it when you look back on your path and see all the things you’ve gone through, lost, achieved and most importantly, what you’ve learned.

If your time at NWU were a chapter in a book about your life, what would the title be and why?

I’d title it “The best is yet to come” because since enrolling at NWU, the number of people I’ve met, the connections I’ve made, as well as the countless memories I’ve made along the way are all giving me some of the best moments I’ve ever had. The best moments in my life are still coming and they are all thanks to my time at NWU.

What’s one thing you think every NWU student should try, experience, or learn before they graduate?

I think every NWU student needs to find a way to learn about who they are, what they want for themselves, how to make good and responsible decisions, while not forgetting to have fun and putting themselves out there. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can put you in situations that allow you to blossom and learn so much about yourself. Be open and teachable, and it will help you to adapt to the constant changes around you.

What have been some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt through your postgraduate studies?

I’ve had to learn how to be patient with myself, my study, my supervisor and my goals. Almost everything I planned from the moment I registered did not go according to plan, but what I learned was to just be patient. Postgraduate studies are not all bad but not all good, I taught myself to plan my work and set attainable goals for myself, although a lot of things did not go according to plan, being able to adapt to constant changes, being kind to myself and adapting to constant changes allowed me to keep my head in the game.

Finally, what does NWU mean to you now, standing at the end of this part of your journey?

At this point in my journey, the NWU means so much to me. It really is true that “it all starts here”, the beginning of greatness starts with 1 step, and that step for me was when I enrolled into the NWU and became a part of this amazing community.

As she steps forward into a future filled with promise, Khutso leaves behind not only a legacy of academic excellence but also a message of hope to every student still finding their way: believe in your fire, trust the process, and always remember, the best is yet to come!