Teenager's day in the lab sparks dreams of a career in science
High school student Tamica Lakay participated in a job shadowing program at Stellenbosch University’s Biomedical Research Institute, which solidified her interest in a science career. The experience provided hands-on exposure to laboratory work and a deeper understanding of how research addresses local health challenges.
Why it matters
STEM outreach programs are critical for developing the next generation of researchers and addressing local health disparities through education.
Teenager Tamica Lakay has always been drawn to the idea of a career in science, but it was a single day spent shadowing researchers at Stellenbosch University’s Biomedical Research Institute that gave these aspirations a fillip. Not to mention a more profound respect for scientists.
The Christel House South Africa head girl, who lives in Manenberg with her mother, brother, and sister, heard about the GenS Job Shadow Programme through her life-sciences teacher and seized the chance to experience the world of a scientist first-hand.
“The job programme is about shadowing scientists and exposing children to what being a scientist entails,” she explained. “We visited labs and saw different aspects of work scientists do on a daily basis, what scientific research involves.”
Tamica described the experience as very exciting and insightful, particularly the hands-on activities that gave her a real sense of laboratory work, through direct experience.
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