Having struggled with feelings of isolation within her family as the first person to attend university in her family, fuelled Nikita Kaylene Moodley (24) to persevere and work hard to produce good results and overcome her personal challenges.

At the beginning of her academic studies she set her goal to pass with Cum Laude and every time she felt overwhelmed she reminded herself of this goal.

Moodley, who is from Phoenix in Durban will be graduating Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Engineering Technology Honours in Chemical Engineering at the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Virtual Autumn Graduation ceremony on Friday, 13 May 2022.

“It feels great to know my hard work paid off. My family were overjoyed and extremely proud of me. They surprised me with a graduation party once I had received all of my final results. It was very heart-warming to see my entire family together to celebrate my achievements together,” she said proudly.

It took Moodley a while for her to adjust her mindset from being a high school student to a university student studying engineering. Initially, she failed to fully gasp the level of commitment required to not just pass but to achieve the results she wanted.

“After I realised that I would have to start working from the very beginning of the semester, I was able to achieve the results of wanted. In order to produce A-level grades you have to work ahead of the class schedule so that later in the semester you are not overwhelmed with the quantity of work,” she said.

In high school Moodley’s favourite subject was physics and she always loved learning how things worked.

“I didn’t want to just accept that things exist and work in a particular way, I wanted to know why they did. Additionally, as I got older and learned more about the current state of our planet, I wanted to help improve our present and future. Becoming an engineer places me in a position to do so,” she relayed happily.

Her advice to future engineering students is to start working ahead of the class schedule and consistency is key to staying ahead.

Moodley is currently doing her internship working in the renewable energy area and hopes to remain in this sector.

“I think we are living in a critical time of human history in regards to climate change and our dependence on fossil fuels. Therefore, I love that my job helps make the world a better place,” she said.

Also, Moodley plans on returning to her academic studies for her Master’s degree after gaining a few years of industry experience.

Pictured: Nikita Kaylene Moodley

Waheeda Peters