Constructing a future
Naledi Mphomane graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Studies and is all set for a career in quantity surveying. She is still involved at LEAP and volunteers with the Christian Club every Thursday afternoon.
I’m from Maclear in the Eastern Cape. I came to Cape Town because I wanted to get a good education, to take the opportunity and make the most of it.
I was a bit scared at first because I came to LEAP in Grade 11 but the kids in my class were very welcoming. It was definitely different from where I had come from! The hours and everything made a huge difference. But I slowly adapted and I enjoyed most of my time at school.
The transition between school and university was hard. In high school, everybody is there to help you and if you slack in your work someone is there to tell you to get back on track. At university, there’s no-one. At first I didn’t get it right and I had to go back to LEAP a few times. They tutored me and helped me plan my time better and slowly I started getting used to being on my own, using the resources available, speaking to people if I didn’t understand something.
I found my pace.
When I graduated with a BSC in Construction Studies, I was very proud to have finally done it. Now I’m doing my honours in quantity surveying. Finding funding for my fees and study expenses has been challenging, but I am grateful for the support that I have received and I am enjoying the course.
This year I have some free time on Thursdays and I’m able to go back to LEAP and volunteer with the Christian Club. I help out in whatever way I can and my goal is to get them to be the best they can be.
