“I would like to inspire more people in similar positions from where I had started and show them that if you believe in yourself, only the sky is the limit. I would particularly like to engage more with high school learners, and offer them assistance with the technical subjects such as mathematics and physics as well as to enlighten them more about what Civil Engineering is all about,” that was the declaration from Lindokuhle Magagula after his graduation this morning at the first session of the 2018 Spring graduation ceremony at the Fred Crookes Sports Centre, Durban.
The Umlazi-born Magagula who passed his Degree of Bachelor of Technology: Civil Engineering Cum Laude, said his graduation is a huge milestone for him and he hopes to positively influence others.
“For me graduation is an important milestone because it is a reminder that the hard work you put in as a student actually pays off and it also comes with a sense of hope for the future now that you have completed that particular course. Most importantly it symbolises achievement and growth as a human being which then always serves as a motivation going forward,” he said.
Due to his strong obsession with bridges and structures, Magagula said the signal has always been there that he was destined for a career in Civil Engineering.
“When I was doing my in-service training, I was fortunate enough to be involved in the construction of the newly completed Umgeni Interchange which involved various disciplines of Civil Engineering more especially bridges. So to me, that felt like a dream come true. Soon after, I joined BMK Consulting Engineers where I was exposed to the design of infrastructure projects such as roads, water and sanitation. My interest for water and sanitation grew, hence the reason why I eventually chose to major in water for my BTech,” said Magagula.
Even though juggling between working and studying presented a huge challenge for Magagula, but he says he was well equipped to overcome it. “I had to persevere, manage my time wisely and compromise many things for the sake of improving my life,” he said.
Despite his excitement with his graduation, but the ambitious Magagula is already contemplating on pursuing his Master’s degree next year. “My overall plan is to become a specialist in water engineering and achieve the highest honours/degree possible as a Civil Engineer hence the next step for me would be to commence with my Master’s degree as soon as possible, and also to be registered as a Professional Technologist. I am constantly working towards gaining enough experience, exposure and recognition in the industry as well as pushing myself to be the best at my current job as that will grant me a vast range of opportunities,” explained Magagula.
He encouraged current students never to be deterred when they encounter challenges in their academic journey. “Firstly, all challenges provide great rewards. I would like to encourage students to stay focused and not give-in to peer pressure, and eventually they will reap the benefits of working hard. The other important lesson to note is to always keep in mind the end goal, by constantly reminding yourself of the reasons why you are studying and that will carry you through any challenge,” advised Magagula.
Pictured: Lindokuhle Magagula
Nduduzo Ndlovu
