CASA Student of the Month for April 2021 Keevara Raidoo

APRIL 2021

My name is Keevara Raidoo and I am a 23-year-old, final year Chiropractic
student at the University of Johannesburg. I would like to take this opportunity
to thank CASA for selecting me as the Student member of the month for April
2021.

I matriculated from the Shree Bharat Sharda Mandir (SBSM) high school in
2015. Throughout my schooling career I was always interested in biology
and human anatomy, I still find the human body one of the most marvellous
things I have ever come across! I always saw myself becoming a doctor one
day and helping people who were in pain has always been something that
I wanted to do. I came across Chiropractic when I was in Grade 10, after
receiving treatment from my local Chiropractor, I was drawn to the profession
immediately. I made all the necessary enquiries and job-shadowed two
Chiropractors as part of my application process. I was accepted into the UJ
Chiropractic program at the end of my Grade 12 year and that paved the
path to where I am right now.

The past 5 years have been a rollercoaster and as all of you may already
know, becoming a Chiropractor is certainly not a piece of cake. Which is
funny because I also own a novelty cake baking business part-time. It has
been 5 years of blood, sweat and tears but as I near the end of my journey as a student I can confidently say that
it was worth all the effort.

I have been treating patients at the UJ Chiropractic clinic since February 2020 and even though the pandemic
has robbed all of us of valuable ‘patient-time’ I can still attest to the fact that I have gained so much of knowledge
and experience in this short period. It has made me realise that I am so proud of this profession I have chosen.
Physically seeing patients who have suffered with pain for months prior, feel better after I have treated them has
been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and it is a feeling that I will never get tired of.

The COVID-19 lockdown during 2020 has given me the opportunity to broaden my perspective and really get
a feel of the various options to pursue after I graduate. I have taken a keen interest in both sports as well as
paediatric Chiropractic care. I have completed various online training courses in both these aspects, presented by
industry professionals and I have gained a wealth of knowledge (from the comfort of my own home).

I have found extreme fulfilment from working at various spinal screening outreach events as well as ChiroSport
events. It is a steppingstone and a window into a world that I will very soon be entering. I could not be more
excited for the journey that lies ahead. I look forward to what the next few
months have in store for me. I am ready to start exploring the world and
continue sharing my love and passion for Chiropractic!

I am so grateful to my parents for allowing me the freedom to choose my
own career path and supporting me through this journey. I would also
like to thank the dedicated lecturers and clinicians of the UJ Chiropractic
department for their invaluable guidance, lessons, and advice over the last
few years.

As a future practitioner, I hope to improve the quality of life of my patients.
To help them heal and show them the beauty of this wonderful profession.
Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray – Sri Sathya Sai Baba