Gideon Kanyangela-Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (Best student in 4th year "Cum laude" 2015)

Brief: Best Student in the fourth year “Cum Laude” (2015)

You recently received the best fourth year student “Cum Laude” award for the Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering course. How do you feel about this achievement? I feel very proud of myself. All the hard work, the sleepless nights, the anxiety of exams, it all paid off and I have something to show for it. I was not even studying for awards or “Cum Laude,” I was simply doing my best. Now I can say those are just icing on the cake.

What is your learning style and how would you encourage others? My style has always been to “study to know, not to pass. If you know, you will pass.” After all, “Knowledge is what you retain after you forget ‘everything.’” Study what you’ve have been taught, but don’t end there. Read more, do a variety of examples, try to understand the basic concepts and the reasoning for certain things. The way to do this is to start studying in advance. My encouragement would be to work hard, and work smart. Don’t simply aim for a pass, push yourself and see how far you can go.

What inspired you to study Civil Engineering, and why did you choose to study at NUST? I chose Civil Engineering because not only does it cover the fields that interest me, but it also improves the quality of life of an average person in a variety of ways. From transport infrastructures, water, sanitation, and buildings. These are all things I see differently now because I know how they came about and how they operate. For me that is very fulfilling. Also, Engineering is fun – really.I chose NUST firstly because it offers a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree, secondly, it is located in the capital, so I felt I was going to learn in the best possible environment, combined with good learning facilities, and an environment where I could see most of the things I was studying for.

What are your plans for the near future? To register as a Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of Namibia, and to get a Master’s degree in engineering.

Success quote! “Always push yourself to be the best you can be – it will not be easy, but it will be worth it”