Ronewa Ndou

Ronewa is from Limpopo and is currently studying BSc (Electrical and Computer Engineering) at the University of Cape Town.

“Despite hard and difficult times, you can achieve anything as long as you believe in yourself and stay focused on the important things in life.”

When did you realise you enjoyed science and mathematics more than your other school subjects?

My passion for science started when I was in primary school (Centauri Combined School). My science teacher, Mr Nenzhelele, always went the extra mile when he taught us physics. He gave us extra information that was beyond our scope. This made me curious and I started to read more on the material.

Tell us a bit about your school.

I matriculated at Thohoyandou Technical High School in Limpopo. This school caters for people with special needs. It has about 1400 learners.

Why did you choose the course you are studying now?

I have always loved electrical engineering but I wanted a bit of complexity, so I decided to do electrical and computer engineering.

Anything else you would like to share that would be helpful to learners in Grades 11 and 12?

Set yourself goals and work very hard to achieve them. You will encounter obstacles(for instance, failing a test) on the way, but just get up and continue working towards your goal. The obstacles are just temporary situations; do not base decisions that will permanently influence your life on temporary situations.

Did you encounter any challenges at school that made it difficult for you to achieve good marks in maths and science? If so, what did you do to overcome these challenges?

I encountered more challenges in mathematics than in physics. I usually did not finish my maths tests due to time constraints. This affected my results. To overcome this challenge I practiced the material to a point where I was comfortable, in that way I was able to answer my tests quickly and accurately.

Who/ What inspires you?

The founder of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe inspires me, as I am mainly interested in telecommunications. This company is very successful, which proves once again that despite hard and difficult times, you can achieve anything as long as you believe in yourself and stay focused on the important things in life.

Where do you see yourself five years from now, in terms of your studies/career?

In five years’ time Ihope to be employed, utilizing and improving the skills that I learnt in school and at university. On the other hand,I can also see myself completing my cosmetology degree.

What advice do you have for matriculants who have to apply for places at higher education institutions?

Apply as soon as you can as this gives you a greater chance of being accepted if you qualify for that degree.

National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)