As part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is introducing 60 future healthcare professionals who are currently in their first year. Meet Susan van Eeden.

Susan van Eeden has a passion for people and for helping others. That’s why she chose to enrol for the degree B of Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy. “I think it will enable me to have a meaningful career,” she says.

Van Eeden, who matriculated from DF Malan High School in Belville with eight distinctions, is currently a first-year student at Stellenbosch University and says she’s excited to learn the skills that bring her stepwise closer to fulfilling her dream job.

“It motivates me to think that everything I learn in my course is enabling me to one day help others,” she says.

Van Eeden believes in embracing even the smallest moments and tries to live by the Steve Jobs quote ‘Stay hungry. Stay foolish.’ “To me it means always staying eager, pushing yourself, being ready to try new things and to go after the things you love, because you only live once.”

And that is exactly what she aims to do.

Did you know…

• Her best trait is her cheery nature.
• Her worst habit is biting her nails.
• Tigger from Winnie the Pooh is her favourite TV-character. “He has such zest for life and contagious happiness.”
• She bakes anything from fudge to cookies and says her hidden talent is her creative and ‘artsy’ side.