Engineering is a Girl Thing, says Graduate

BY: .

With her elder brother as her role model, Ms Satvika Harilal has made her family proud by graduating top of her class with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering summa cum laude degree. 

Harilal had an interest in engineering since she was in high school and her curiosity knew no bounds when it came to computers, cell phones, airplanes, roller coasters and even robots. 

Her fascination with such things led her to study mechanical engineering so she could learn more about them.  ‘I am even more motivated to continue to learn about these life changing creations and hopefully work more closely with some of them in future,’ she said. 

Tetra Pak, a food processing and packaging solutions company in Pinetown, has employed Harilal as their first Process Engineer. ‘While there I hope to gain the necessary skills and expertise through their training programmes and under the guidance of the professionals in the FMCG sector. I aim to obtain my GCC or Pr. Eng in the near future,’ said Harilal. 

She is glad women are now showing more interest in Engineering as a career.  ‘I think women need to be educated about engineering and encouraged to pursue careers in the field. The scope for engineering, and mechanical engineering specifically, is ever broadening and therefore it is necessary to get more people involved.’ 

Harilal described her path to obtaining her Mechanical Engineering degree as extremely difficult.  ‘Like any experience, there are good times and difficult times. It has been one of the biggest challenges of my life so far and my thanks go to my family and friends who are the strong support system I have behind me.’ 

-  Prashina Kallideen