Guest: Saman Akhtar - from Curro Grantleigh School (KZN)

Saman was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer in the middle of her Grade 12 year. She underwent chemotherapy treatment during the last two terms, which spanned over her final examinations. Although she contended with severe discomfort, nausea and extreme exhaustion, she barely missed a day of school and despite this significant adversity, achieved seven distinctions.

Saman is looking forward to studying medicine at either the University of Pretoria or the University of Cape Town. She is currently interested in pursuing paediatrics, radiology or gynaecology. “The lesson I learnt from my ordeal is that no matter what you are faced with, you can always rise above it, and you don’t have to settle for what was given to you, you can always make a better life for yourself,” she says.