FROM as early as primary school level young people, more especially females, must be urged to pursue careers in the typically male-dominated fields such as science.
This is what local businesswoman and qualified chemist Nomandla Ngcoya stressed to pupils who attended the Women in Science Women’s Day event held at the KZN Museum last Wednesday. Currently pursuing her PhD in Chemistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Ngcoya has founded her own company, the D Chem Group, which manufactures detergents and is a wholly black female-owned chemistry group.
Speaking to the pupils in attendance, Ngcoya said that though she always dreamed of being a doctor, she was not able to pursue medicine due to a points difference in her final report but while studying a broad degree of science, her love for chemistry came into play.
“While on campus it became clear to me that I did not want to become a doctor but a chemist instead, due to my new found love of chemistry,” said Ngcoya.
Ngcoya said that her life is testimony to the fact that sometimes God has a different plan for your life, not necessarily the one you see.
“Do not rush things. It will come when God wants it to come,” said Ngcoya to the pupils.
Ngcoya also stressed that although things happen in their own time it is still important not to waste any time and to inform pupils from a very young age about future academic and career choices.