​As part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is introducing 60 future healthcare professionals who are currently in their first year. Meet Marietjie Swanepoel.

Integrity, practical logic and dedication to the task at hand are typical characteristics that you can expect from Marietjie Swanepoel’s personality type, according to the Myers-Briggs tests. Luckily these are all traits which will help during the course of her studies: Swanepoel is currently a first-year MB,ChB student at Stellenbosch University.

She chose to study medicine not only because she wants to make a difference, but also because she finds the work interesting and challenging. She considers herself blessed to be able to be in the position she’s in. This gratefulness as well as her owns standards for herself, spurs her dedication. “Knowing that everything I have is a privilege, motivates me to work hard.”

Her favourite movie character is the female Chinese warrior, Mulan. “I like the character because she acts the way she does in order to protect her loved ones. She grows as a person and shows great courage and determination, and she uses her intellect to solve problems. And she stays humble through it all.”

Swanepoel also sees herself as a “work in progress” and as someone who is still growing as person every day.Wise words:

• Best time management tip? “Make good use of every minute of the day. You only get it once.”
• What message would you like to give to adults? “You’re in a position to influence younger people. Act everyday day as an example of what you would like to see in the world, because you never know who is looking to you as a role model.”