fefe mzimane

2^nd year civil engineering at stellenbosch university

Fefe joins 42 students in the agency's Western Region to be awarded a SANRAL bursary in 2017.

WHAT DREW YOU TO CIVIL ENGINEERING?

Growing up, I was determined to be a medical doctor. However, halfway through high school, I realised that natural sciences was not my thing and expanded my horizons to the career prospects of the physical sciences, leading to a curiosity about structures and the built environment.

YOU'VE ALREADY COMPLETED A NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING. WHAT MADE YOU START AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM SCRATCH RATHER THAN DOING A B-TECH?

Many people think I'm crazy! I spent a year in the field after graduating my National Diploma in civil engineering in 2015. In consultation with my mentor, we agreed that if I wanted to progress beyond being a technologist, I would need to go to university and enrol for
an engineering degree. I'm nearly halfway there and my National Diploma is an excellent foundation that allows me to unpack the complex issues and take a much more technical approach.

WHAT ASPECT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DO YOU FIND MOST INTERESTING?

Definitely structural engineering. I have always been fascinated with the advancements that have been made in bridge building and cannot wait to specialise in that area once I go back into the field.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE MATRIC CLASS AT YOUR OLD HIGH SCHOOL?

Think carefully before you decide on a field of study. Read the fine print and, once you've made up your mind, stick to your convictions. Engineering is not a walk in the park. It will be difficult from the start. Make peace with it and push on. The reward comes after graduation.