By Pelane Archiebald Phakgadi
Date of birth : 09 November 1988
Marital status: Single
Youngsters around Soshanguve Block G have all and more reasons to do well in their studies in Electrical Engineering as they have a tutor who they need not to pay, her name is Patricia Moshopjadi Nkogatse.
Patricia attended High school in Ngwana-Kwena Senior Secondary school in Manapjane/Moganyaka in Limpopo province where she was a regular member of the school debate team. It is again a place where she says she learnt her morals and respect for other people which was courtesy of the educators at her school during her high school term from 2001-2007.
In 2002, she was actively involved in drama activities in her community that educated people about HIV/AIDS during World AIDS day.
Thabang Marobole, a high school friend to Patricia says that Patricia had always been a great tutor to her and her and their friends when it came to Maths and Science which led to both of them doing well in the subject.
Though Patricia repeated her grade 11 and grade 12, it was said, by Thabang, to be a learning curve in her life that made her to be even stronger of a character than as someone who had failed her grades.
After successfully passing her matric in 2007, she worked as a cashier at the local KFC restaurant in 2008/09 in the small town of Marble Hall, around 15 km from her home in Moganyaka. She again joined Fashion Express store to continue working as a cashier to get extra cash to help her parents with the monthly expenses.
All that she did after matric was because of lack of finance to pursue her studies at a higher learning facility, and again, with little information about the National Student Financial Scheme Bursary/loan.
In January 2010, she moved to Soshanguve (currently still reside there) and enrolled with Tshwane North College for an NCV programme in Electrical Engineering for the duration of the year, but found it to be less challenging and went on to do Nated (Tri-mester courses) Electrical Engineering course starting with her N4-N6 with Tshwane South College in 2011.
In 2012, She again enrolled for N2 and N3 with Tshwane North College for her Trade Theory in Electrical Engineering.
After completing her Nated course, she is yet to find a job, but is using her acquired knowledge to help those students who are still in pursue of their certificates in engineering in leading a group of young enthusiastic electrical engineering students of TNC Soshanguve campus in group discussions and offer help, at her room, where they need it most in the all subjects that she has in done in electrical engineering, but mostly in Mathematics and Engineering Science.
One of her peers in the study group Abdul Masola, motivates that Patricia is a hard worker who does not let anything go off easy. If she does not know something, especially that is academic related, she would rather sacrifice her time for her personal joy in exchange of that particular knowledge.
Patricia would like to see herself getting a job in the near future and being able to provide, not only for herself, but for her siblings and her parents, and make a better life for them.
Starting a study group for other students who need help in the community was something that she thought of doing, but she only hopes that when she does find a job, it would give her a chance to continue with her extra lessons with those who need her help at the nearby higher learning facility at no extra cost.
Apart from helping others acquire knowledge, she would also like a chance to do a University degree in Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at any University in the Republic that will allow her to expand both academically and humanly.
One of her long term dreams being to start a Maths and Science academy for youngsters who would like to pursue any career that is related to those two subjects. She believes that she could groom them to not only be the best in those two aspects, but also be leaders in them.
