A 22-year-old medical student from Firgrove is appealing to the community and business owners to support her dream of going on a student exchange to Belgium.
Charlene Chantelle Eksteen, in her third year of medical studies at Stellenbosch University, was recently offered a opportunity to attend a student-exchange summer school in Belgium for two weeks at the start of July.
“I was fortunate to be selected, although the issue I now face is gathering enough funding for the trip,” she pointed out.
Eksteen grew up in the Helderberg, where she attended school (De Hoop Primary and Hottentots Holland High School), and she knew back then she wanted to be a doctor one day.
“At high school I was fascinated by life sciences and studying how the body works. I did first-aid courses at both primary and high school, which is probably where my fascination with health began, and which I wanted to take to the next level. I’ve always enjoyed the privilege of helping others and enjoy working with people, something a career in medicine makes plenty of room for.
“Another factor, I suppose, is that my mother, whom I have always admired, works as a nurse at Helderberg Hospital, something I am sure has played a role in my decision to pursue a career in medicine.”
Eksteen is currently doing her family-medicine rotation at Idas Valley clinic in Stellenbosch.
“I thoroughly enjoy working in a primary-level setting. It does present its own set of challenges, but being able to work one-on-one with patients has made me consider possibly going in that direction once I complete my studies.
I have also previously considered specialising in paediatric endocrinology, but for the moment my main focus is to learn as much as I possibly can right now and revisit the topic as I progress further in my studies and get more exposure to the different specialist fields in medicine.”
But other than having a goal to one day become a doctor she has always had a desire to go abroad.
“I was previously offered a student exchange opportunity in high school. But it was a opportunity that I did not act on.
“It has always been one of my biggest regrets since I often thought about the world I would’ve seen if I had gone. Now, I am ready to take this opportunity and learn as much as I possibly can. I would always encourage people to go beyond their immediate world. Any opportunity that allows us to broaden our horizons and see the world from a different perspective is well worth taking up.”
This will be the first time Eksteen travels abroad and she is excited to see and be exposed to Belgian culture, cuisine and architecture.
But to do this she needs to raise R40 000 for accommodation, meals and flights.
If you are willing to donate to make Eksteen’s dream of travelling abroad come true then you can send her a WhatsApp on 066 247 2830.
