​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 Carolina Nicolaou.

Carolina Nicolaou doesn’t shy away from challenges. “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning how to dance in the rain,” she explains the motto she lives by.

Nicolaou, who is orginally from Johannesburg, is a first year MB,ChB student at Stellenbosch University. She’s been described by the house committee (HK) at Meerhoff as someone with “exceptional leadership potential” and a person that can be counted on to always do her best in any given situation. “I like the satisfaction I feel when I do well,” she says.

Nicolaou decided on studying medicine because of her love for working with people and her fascination with medical science, but she doesn’t have clear picture of what her dream job will look like just yet. “I just want to be a doctor who is able to help as many people as possible.”  

Her message to her 40-year-old self is simple:  “Don’t forget that no matter how many challenges you face, life is a wonderful gift.”

Quick questions:

• Is social media a blessing or a curse? “Both. While it enables people to keep up to date with the world and those around us, it also tends to make people more self-absorbed.”
• Best habit? “I like to be tidy and organised.”
• Worst habit? “I tend to procrastinate.”
• Pet hate? “People who don’t do what they say they’ll do.”
• What would you write on a billboard? “Smile. It’s a beautiful day.”