How I Became a Graduate iOS Software Engineer
“I wonder if you know what it means to find your dreams come true” — Labi Siffre (My Song, 1972)
I’m currently 22 years old and in the process of figuring out life. In this blog, I will summarise my journey towards becoming a software engineer at DVT.
St Albans, 2018
During 11th grade, I had the opportunity to go on a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) tour to the United States. It was an enlightening experience as I visited renowned institutions like Harvard, UIC, and, notably, MIT, where I met a computer science student. It was my first introduction to a field that wasn’t medicine, engineering, or actuarial science, and it sparked my interest.
Once I returned, my school participated in the Solar Car Challenge, a valuable learning experience. The challenge involved building a solar-powered car to compete against other cars from around the world on a drive to Cape Town. Throughout this project, I gained knowledge in various areas, including production finances, physics (though I knew I wouldn’t use it again), and, most importantly, coding.
A pivotal moment came when I had to code a module that enabled communication between the solar panel on the car and the battery, indicating that the panel was charging. During this time, I decided to veer away from the mundane yet lucrative path of studying actuarial science and pursue a more challenging and equally demanding degree in computer science.
St Albans, 2019
There isn’t much to share about how I reached this point in 2019, and this blog isn’t a detailed account of my life. Matriculation went well. I achieved a few things and ultimately chose the University of Pretoria (UP) over other institutions to stay with my best friend.
The University of Pretoria, First Year, 2020
2020 was eventful, as it typically is for first-year university students. However, out of respect for the PG-13 rating of this blog, I won’t delve into the numerous experiences between January and March. Unfortunately, I became the class representative, a position that stuck with me throughout my university experience.
As many of you may recall, in March 2020, our beloved country went into lockdown to minimise the spread of COVID-19. Consequently, the majority of my university education took place online. It was a strange experience, with online lectures and the occasional student forgetting to mute their microphones becoming the new normal.
The University of Pretoria, Second Year, 2021
In 2021, I was able to return to campus in some capacity. Although I stayed in my residence, we were not allowed to attend classes on campus, and this year proved to be one of the most challenging during my university journey.
Balancing the administrative demands of six modules and handling personal issues faced by my classmates throughout the year was life-changing. Despite my initial dislike for being the designated class representative, I learned how to effectively manage people personally and professionally while trying to find my place in a post-pandemic world.
The University of Pretoria, Final Year, 2022
During our final year, we could finally return to campus fully. However, attending classes as a group of individuals who didn’t know each other posed unique challenges. Piecing everything together to work on our final-year projects took a lot of work. (It was a mess) I navigated different personalities and group dynamics throughout the year, learning to collaborate with individuals regardless of personal preferences to achieve a common goal. Additionally, a few of my friends decided to join me in the graduate programme I had applied for at DVT, a software development company.
DVT, 2023
I am now a graduate iOS software engineer at DVT. Over the past few months, I have gained invaluable experience. I joined the OpenAI team, specifically the machine learning team, and have had the opportunity to build some exciting apps during the graduate programme.
I have learned a great deal about different design patterns, coding standards, soft skills, and the sometimes-painful process of adding constraints to a screen, all of which have prepared me for potential client work (fingers crossed).
I am very grateful to Rose, Serge, Lloyd, and Roberto, who have provided me and my fellow graduates with incredible opportunities to learn and challenge ourselves in a supportive environment. I have experienced tremendous personal growth as a result.
Mentally and physically, I have developed as an individual and had the privilege of meeting knowledgeable and remarkable individuals at DVT. Moreover, I have been honoured to mentor Capstone groups from the University of Pretoria and embark on my Honours in Computer Science.
Life’s good.
