As a young and curious individual with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, I have always been drawn to science, particularly microorganisms. In 2018 I was awarded the opportunity to partake in the Centre for Tree Health and Biotechnology (CTHB) mentorship program offered by FABI at the University of Pretoria. This experience allowed me to develop my confidence, communication and time management skills as well as further my knowledge in mycology. Thereafter, I completed my undergraduate degree in BSc Microbiology in 2018. With a passion for research I pursued and completed my BScHons degree in Microbiology in 2019. This focused on delineation of Paraburkholderia species using an evolutionary and comparative genomic approach. Currently I am a masters student working on the fungal diversity associated with Stipagrostis species of the fairy rings in the Namib desert.