Introduction Bosworth Nakashinga, born on April 18 . I am a final-year undergraduate student in Exploration and Mining Geology at the Université Officielle de Bukavu (UOB) , in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Son of Nakashinga Cirhuza Willnaci and Nzigire Meda Willnaci, I carry my family heritage with pride in my scientific journey. Tomorrow, I turn 20. Rather than a simple "happy birthday," I wanted to take an honest look back at what I have learned since I was 17, when I started this training. Here are 20 lessons – some technical, others human – that I want to share with students who wish to pursue a career in mining exploration. The 20 Lessons Technical (1–7) 1. QGIS and ArcGIS are not learned in class, but in the field. I truly mastered these tools when I had to produce maps for North Idjwi, Luhihi, and Nyangezi. 2. Leapfrog changes everything. 3D deposit modeling is a superpower. Learn it early. 3. A rock tells a story. Every sample collected is a piece of a geological puzzle. 4. The most common mistake: not writing down enough field details. A well-filled notebook is worth more than a poorly documented thesis. 5. Technical English is not optional. Exploration reports, software, publications – everything is in English. 6. Geochemical prospecting does not lie. But it tells complex stories. Learn to read between the anomalies. 7. A practical test is worth more than any diploma. When I was contacted for the Kolwezi mining project, they didn't ask for my degree – they asked for a map. Fieldwork (8–13) 8. The best school is the hammer and the hand lens. The field teaches you humility. 9. Good physical condition is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Exploration means walking, climbing, carrying. 10. Safety is never a waste of time. One wrong move can stop everything. 11. Unexpected events are your best teachers. Weather, broken roads, crumbling samples – every problem is a disguised lesson. 12. Teamwork is not just about collaborating. It is about knowing how to say "I don't know" and asking for help. 13. Local communities know things you ignore. Their knowledge of the terrain is data you must integrate. Human & Career (14–20) 14. Being published changes everything. My Medium article ("Diamond: Between Deep Earth and Cosmos") opened doors that my CV alone would not have. 15. Your network is built before your degree. LinkedIn, ORCID, Medium, Figshare – be visible where recruiters look. 16. Offer practical tests, not promises. "I can show you" is stronger than "I know how to do it." 17. A trainer who shares knowledge is worth more than an expert who hoards it. I have trained students and workers in GIS. Teaching is also learning. 18. The DRC needs Congolese geologists. This is not a slogan. It is a reality. The government says it, companies are looking for it. 19. Academic rigor does not oppose popularization. My publications on HAL and Figshare stand alongside my Medium articles – both are useful. 20. At 20, you have the right not to know everything. But you have a duty to keep learning. Every day, every field, every reading. What I Am Doing Now (18,April ) I am currently working on Kalemie (Tanganyika, DRC) for my final-year thesis. The goal is ambitious but clear: Carry out the first systematic geological studies in this area, conducted by a Congolese geologist. If everything goes well, we will publish these results – a first for Kalemie. This is my way of contributing, in my own small way, to the knowledge of the Congolese subsoil through local expertise. Conclusion My 20 years are not an end. They are a milestone. I am heading back to the field (Kalemie, very soon) with the same tools, but more experience. To the students reading this: publish, train yourselves, go into the field, be visible. Exploration geology needs you. And the DRC needs its geologists. Thank you to my parents, Nakashinga Cirhuza Willnaci and Nzigire Meda Willnaci, for their unwavering support. Bosworth Nakashinga – 20 years old (born April 18 ) Final-year Student in Exploration and Mining Geology – Université Officielle de Bukavu Current work: Kalemie (thesis) | Forthcoming publications nakashinga.w@gmail.com LinkedIn: Bosworth Nakashinga Cette étude a été publiée le 17/04/2025