Science affects us all. Its applications is interwoven in our daily lives – from the food that we eat to the computers that we use every day. Although science as a subject may be daunting for some of us, a nudge in the right direction is all that is needed sometimes to send us on an interesting career path.
This is one of the lessons we learnt from one of our Iimbovane alumni, Mphefumlo Anathi. When Iimbovane recently reconnected with a few budding scientists, Anathi a former high school learner at uMyezo waMa Apile High School in Grabouw who also took part in Iimbovane in Grade 10, was happy for us to interview him on how his first year at college is unfolding.
Choosing science as a subject at school impacted his life and career choice as he is currently studying towards a qualification in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Computer Sciences at the False Bay College in Khayelitsha. Anathi’s favourite subjects at college are Mathematics, Electronics and Systems Development.
When asked what is the biggest difference between school and college? He highlights the following:
“At a college I consistently focus on my studies because this is where my future starts. At college I am gaining theoretical knowledge as well as practical experience.”
We were interested to know if there were any skills that he learned during his Iimbovane participation that are beneficial to his studies currently, and to this he responded:
“Yes, I’ve learned using microscope and I have also learnt about different types of species. But most importantly, I learned how to use a computer to prepare presentations and practiced how to present my work to other learners, and now to students. This is coming in very handy now at college.”
On his highlights of the programme he responded to say:
“I will always remember the fynbos as it was my first time to see all the different species from close up. Being on a university campus, working in a university laboratory and staying in a university residence showed me what it would be like to be a student.”
Anathi, is a real inspiration to take on Information Technology as career and we at Iimbovane wish him all the best and we will follow how his career develops!