My name is Amanda Duma, I am 21 years old and I am from Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal. I attended the Girls Fly Programme in Africa foundation Aviation and Space Camp when I was doing Grade 10 in 2015 along with a few of my school mates in other grades.

I matriculated from Adams College in 2017 and I am currently doing my third and final year in Bachelor of Architectural Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. 

When I attended the camp, I was not sure what I wanted to do. I remember I said I wanted to be an Accountant when I was asked. Despite that, GFPA taught me something empowering. It taught me that woman can be anything they want to be. "If she can fly, so can I" is what they use to tell us. I took that phrase more figuratively than literally. To me, it means if another woman can build an empire no one can tell me that I cannot. 

In 2016 I was part of an Empowerment Week Program from the University of Pretoria sponsored by Investec called the Junior Tukkies, which was about helping high school students get a sense of Varsity life all while assisting them to find their suitable career paths. That is when I discovered something called Architecture, the Prof. simply described it as a combination of Art and Science, "the Arts of Science" he said. And that is when I got interested in it. I mean I have always had a love for drawing and art.

When I am not doing any architecture work, I enjoy reading, I just finished reading “Everyday Greatness" from the Reader's Digest series collection. I do drawings and paintings, recently did a painting for my mother. I also have a love for fashion and enjoy designing and sewing some outfits might just start a brand in future who knows.

To the younger generation, I want to say you do not have to have it all figured out from the beginning. Everyone's journey is different so do not compare yourself to anyone else. Take the time to live in the present and appreciate what is around you. What is meant for you will find you, but only if you want it to.