S.E.T. for socio-economic growth
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Andre would like to automate several systems, such as renewing prescriptions, shortening the line for people who need human assistance, and improving the experience for those who do not.
I wanted to be able to bring ideas to life that would improve the livelihood of others. Engineering is all about implementing solutions in real world scenarios, so I decided early on that I wanted to be an engineer. Industrial engineering specifically is focused on using existing technology more efficiently. I see it as common sense engineering. I feel passionate about finding simple solutions to complex problems. I think we can save a lot of time and money if we can use existing infrastructure more efficiently instead of rebuilding from the ground up.
The first person who exposed me to industrial engineering was my uncle who is still working as an industrial engineer. I told him about my dream to become an engineer when I was around fourteen years old. I remember how passionate he was about being an industrial engineer. That night, I went and conducted my research, and I immediately knew what I wanted to be.
I think inefficiency is dangerous. In places like waiting room for free clinics people who need medical attention can be turned away because they do not want to deal with long queues and slow service. I think there must be a way to automate several systems, such as renewing prescriptions, shortening the line for people who need human assistance, and improving the experience for those who do not.
I did my high school years at Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley in the Northern Cape I had a few very influential teachers, most notably my physics teacher, Ms Fourie. She told me that I was smarter than I gave myself credit for. Her support turned me into a straight A student. I feel proud to have been a part of Diamantveld for five years. It was a place where I could develop and grow while being exposed to different hobbies and interests.
It was the only period where I ever wanted to pay attention. I have always loved math and physics. I made it a challenge to find patterns in the work. I saw it as putting together a toolbox that would help me solve any problem. I loved the fact that there was always something that you have not seen before.
Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out the corelation between the method that you need to use to solve a problem and the work itself. If you fall behind at any stage, you start to develop a gap in your understanding and you miss key connections and patterns that put the work into context.
If you focus in class, then most of the work is already done. Do not let yourself down by daydreaming. Working consistently, a bit by bit every day gets you much better results than trying to do everything in exam season.
At this point it’s time to work harder than you have ever worked before. You don’t want to look back with regret if you don’t get accepted. You are at the end of the marathon, put your head down for the last stretch.
Dedication, passion, and a clear understanding of your goals are a fundamental part of the winning mindset. You need to have a reason to work hard otherwise the focus will not come.
We need to start standing up for ourselves. We have incredible opportunities and there are so many systems in place to help those who are less fortunate. We need to take advantage of these opportunities by working hard to build our own future. We will be the next generation of lawmakers, builders, and innovators. We need to educate ourselves so that we are ready when our time comes.
Thank you for being kind and for motivating me and every other student who enters your classroom. You left your mark on all of us. Some of you made the subjects that I didn’t like way more interesting, and others made the subjects that I did like even more enjoyable. I feel fortunate to have had such excellent role models in my formative years.
I would like to talk to Elon Musk. He is undoubtably changing the world. Every new venture creates a wake of new companies that follow him. I would like to tell him to stay away from politics. I think it’s great that he feels strongly about some matters, but I think he should use his platform to inspire innovation rather than political unrest. If he turns people against him, he also turns them against the change he is inspiring. That doesn’t do anyone any good.
S.E.T. for socio-economic growth
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