A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step
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Master's Degree," she concluded.
eet Major Doctor Sweetness Jabulile Beteck, who embarked on her journey by joining the South African National Defence in 2003 through the Department of Defence Youth Foundation Programme. Initially aspiring to become a Physiotherapist, she soon discovered new fields of study that influenced her career path after joining the Defence Force. Currently serving as a Biokineticist in the Area Military Health Unit North West, her career journey took root in 2005 when she enrolled at the University of North West to pursue her dream of becoming a Biokineticist. She successfully completed her undergraduate degree and subsequently pursued her Honours Degree. During her academic journey, she encountered significant obstacles. In 2009, while pursuing her Honours Degree, she was involved in a vehicle accident that left her in a coma for two weeks. This experience had a profound impact on her life, leading to her repeating her Honours Degree in 2010. "My struggle with short-term memory loss greatly affected my life. Nevertheless, I will forever be grateful that I managed to complete my Honours Degree and subsequently enrolled in my
However, this setback did not deter her from her ultimate goal of becoming a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Movement Science. Throughout her pursuit of her Doctoral Degree, Dr. Beteck has been surrounded by influential figures. One of them is her mother, whom she regards as a relentless achiever, serving as a constant source of inspiration. She draws her spiritual inspiration from Pastor Apostle Matras, whom she believes has played a pivotal role in her spiritual growth. Her academic mentor, Professor Hanlie Moss, provided invaluable assistance during her thesis titled, "Contribution of supervised exercise and knowledge of black Africans on physical activity about risk factors for non-communicable diseases: The Be Healthy Study." Maintaining a balance between her professional duties and academics demanded numerous sacrifices. She often had to stay up late at night to study, ensuring a high work ethic within her department. Her advice to women is to prioritize self-care in their daily lives through proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management. She further encourages all women never to be intimidated by the label of the "weaker gender," as nothing is impossible.
Maj (Dr) Jabulile Beteck, a biokineticist at Area Military Health Unit North West.
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Article & Photograph by Capt Lebogang Mogotsi
