Breaking barriers: Wentworth resident earns PhD despite challenges

A RESOLUTE resident of the formerly marginalised community of Wentworth has surmounted adversity by attaining her PhD in engineering and presently endeavours to galvanise the young minds in her community to dream big.

Growing up in Wentworth, known for its pervasive presence of drugs and serious crimes, Dr Katelyn Johnson faced numerous challenges that often act as barriers to academic success.

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Limited access to resources, substandard educational facilities and societal inequalities were just some of the hurdles she had to overcome. However, fuelled by an unwavering determination and supported by the encouragement of family and mentors, Johnson embarked on a journey that led her to academic excellence.

After years of hard work and dedication, she recently graduated with a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

“I hope to inspire young people in the community to see that there is more to life and the world than what they see in their backyard. There are many more opportunities to pursue tertiary studies for young people to take advantage of than when I left school 15 years ago. People must not be afraid to dream for more than what they have been exposed to; the world is a big place. My academic career has taken me to many countries and exposed me to numerous cultures and global opportunities,” said Johnson.

With a deep-rooted commitment to giving back, she encourages the youth to forage further in order to accomplish their dreams.

“Obtaining a PhD in Civil Engineering as a woman in a male-dominated field, especially within a scarce skills area, demonstrates that limitations imposed by our backgrounds can be overcome.

“If I could do this during a time when the opportunity and support for studies was limited, imagine what young people can achieve now with more and more opportunities becoming available for people of colour from disadvantaged backgrounds,” she said.

Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that with resilience and support, individuals can break free from the cycle of disadvantage and carve out their own path to success. It takes grit and determination.

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“My mother provided unwavering support for my academic aspirations, from primary school all the way through to university. She equipped me with the tools to discern right from wrong and to resist the allure of negative influences that may have surrounded me.

“My high school teachers would often give us talks about making the best choices for our future and not falling into the trap of drugs, gangs and teenage pregnancy. They inspired me to look forward to more in life and see that there is so much more to the world than the problems in the community,” she said.

She is currently a lecturer for Fluid Mechanics and Engineering Hydrology at the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Sciences’ School of Engineering at UKZN.

“I worked in the industry as a civil engineer for four years, with some experience in flood management. After completing my master’s part-time, I came across the postgraduate opportunities at UKZN. From my experience in the industry, working with stormwater management design manuals, I wanted to understand how the design guidelines are developed and can be improved. I left the industry to pursue my doctoral studies full-time and then became a lecturer.”

The former matric learner from Umbilo Secondary School advised the youth from similar backgrounds to stay focused.

“As a lecturer at UKZN, I know there are very few Coloured people, never mind females, who pursue studies in Civil Engineering. In a class some years ago, there were one or two Coloured males. Academia is a tough space to be in because your brain is your job. You have to have a strong mindset to focus on the direction you want to go. You have to choose a path and align all your goals and actions to follow that path, without being distracted by what others are doing around you. Academics have never been popular, but it’s okay to defy the norms of society,” she added.

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