Relebohile Mbongo, a Master's student in chemistry at the University of Cape Town and a Class of 2018 Achiever, exemplifies perseverance and determination. Her academic journey serves as an inspiration to her fellow students, Achievers, and women everywhere.

Relebohile shares that her Master’s research focuses on synthesising amino acid-like derivatives with the potential to become anti-cancer agents, a project that promises significant impact in chemistry and beyond. However, her academic journey has not been without challenges, which she describes as a "tapestry of resilience," marked by moments of self-discovery that are both exciting and daunting.

Like many students in South Africa, Relebohile faced challenges in adapting to the tertiary environment after excelling in high school. Transitioning to the demands of university life, she found herself needing to independently drive her academic performance and continued achieving high grades. This, she found, was an immense challenge.

Despite these hurdles, Relebohile has persevered, learning valuable lessons about determination and hard work. Her story reminds us that achieving academic success is not easy, but with time and effort, one can develop the skills and resilience needed to overcome obstacles and ultimately succeed. 

"Nothing worth having ever comes easy," Relebohile says, underscoring the value of persistence and dedication. Her message to fellow students is clear: be determined to reach your goals and work hard - anyone can overcome challenges and achieve success. 

As we celebrate Relebohile's accomplishments, we also honour all our Achievements who are on their academic journeys with the determination to make a difference in their communities, Relebohile's story testifies to the power of young people, especially those in STEM fiels, to break barriers. We are proud of her contributions to the field of chemistry and hope her example will inspire other young people, particularly women, to realise their dreams.

Let us take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work of Relebohile Mbongo and the many students like her who are pushing boundaries in their fields. Their stories inspire us all, and we look forward to the impact they will make in the years to come.