Graduate Now Studying as Medical Researcher: Prudence Ndzinisa

We’re thrilled to have 2017 graduate Prudence Ndzinisa share an update with us:

It has been six years since I graduated from African Christian College and returned home with multiple talents, education, and experiences that shaped me into who I am today. It has not been an easy path, but when I look back, I thank God for the solid foundation I received at African Christian College.

Back at home, I served my church as an office administrator and worked with the teenagers. I taught Bible lessons, provided counselling, and helped them discover their identity in Christ. I loved my ministry. But in my heart I longed to further my studies.

I was unable to enrol in the graduate programme in counselling. But I had a dream, and though I didn’t like the idea, I enrolled and completed another undergraduate and honours degree. Today I am enrolled at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University to complete my MSc in Medical Science.

African Christian College has shaped my faith and academic journey for success. Christian ethics are engraved in my heart no matter where I go. As much as most secular universities do not prioritise Christian living, my time at African Christian College taught me to be upright even when no one is watching. Thus, I remain unshaken in my faith and do my best to live as a disciple of Christ.

I also learnt to be diligent, patient, and hardworking as I paid my way through college by working on campus. I had my first actual employment at African Christian College. I worked as a farm assistant in the macadamia orchard, as a hospitality officer on campus, and as an email marketing specialist on the communications and marketing team.

All that work experience taught me to be resourceful. Therefore, I did not allow laziness to get the best of me even after I left African Christian College. To support myself financially, I worked as a student advisor at my university, and I currently work as a laboratory technician at the South African Medical Research Council (I am involved in wastewater-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2).

Recently, I won a research award – second place for best poster presentation – from my graduate university, presented during the Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Awards Ceremony. I will present my research, ‘Antibiotic resistance detection in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from wastewater treatment plants in Tshwane, South Africa’ at the 2023 African Society for Laboratory Medicine conference this December in Cape Town. The paper will also be published soon.

I am proud to be an African Christian College graduate because I have been equipped for excellence in all spheres of life. I can thrive and succeed in any situation or environment. All Thanks to the African Christian College community. May God bless you!