Scientific Services

When asked about my prospective career during my foundational grades, my response was definitive and assured: “I want to be a teacher”. Growing up, we were taught that to ensure stability, one should pursue professions such as nursing, medicine, or education. Stability was emphasised as the primary focus by our parents and teachers to the extent that they overlooked the significance of dreams and passion. I was not sure if the source of my aspiration was to please my teachers or my mother, who herself was an educator. However, the objective shifted after I heard about and experienced rhino poaching incidents in the game reserve adjacent to our home. I was curious about this term, and I remember wanting nothing more than to protect the rhinos from ‘thieves’ and ‘murderers’ after I learnt what the term meant. My main goal was to become a game reserve “police officer”—but everyone laughed.

During a career guidance expo in high school, I was informed that if I was interested in learning about animals, I could study zoology or nature conservation. At last, I found my path: Ntando Majola, the zoologist—a big title, but one that perfectly encapsulates my passion and interests. During my undergraduate studies, I further discovered that the most polluted and neglected ecosystems are aquatic environments, facing both visible and invisible threats. I dedicated myself to researching the unseen pollutants while also striving to mitigate the visible threats of litter through the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling. When I resumed my studies after graduating, I faced backlash: ‘You could have been a doctor or something by now.’ A miserable doctor, I might add. Master Yoda once said “Your path you must decide”. Today, I am a marine ecology intern at South African National Parks soon to graduate with a Master’s degree, and here I assist in protecting biodiversity and their supporting environment through monitoring and research. This is just the beginning of my journey. Happy Women’s Month!