Student story

IT graduate Muhammed Faizel Adam is a 23-year-old from South Africa. His family arrived in New Zealand in 2016 in pursuit of new opportunities, and Faizel has made the most of that big move, making lifelong friends and forging a career he loves.  

Since graduating with distinction from the Bachelor of Information Technology at Otago Polytechnic, Faizel has worked as a Software Developer in Christchurch. 

“My role is to maintain the front-end (client-facing) and back-end (servers and databases) of our website. I produce code, fix any bugs that slip though the cracks, upgrade systems and build custom mobile applications.” 

Faizel’s mum was the one who noticed his flair for technology. 

“I was working on a Digital Technology assignment in my final year of high school and the hours passed me by as if they were minutes,” Faizel recalls. “My mum noticed the hard work, dedication and attention to detail I put into this specific project. She suggested I pursue a career in IT because she could see my drive for it.” 

Following his mother’s advice, Faizel enrolled in the Bachelor of Information Technology at Otago Polytechnic. 

“My favourite part of studying was gaining real world experience.”  

“For example, after taking a web application course I was capable of building a website. This type of teaching benefitted me because I am someone that learns best through practice.” 

Faizel has found that the skills he developed through his Bachelor’s degree continue to pay off.  

“One particular challenge I faced in my current role was having to learn how to program in a language I had never used before. This is where my learning experiences at Otago Polytechnic came in handy. I was taught to be resilient and embrace change when faced with new obstacles. Throughout my 3 years at Otago Polytechnic, I had worked on many different programming languages, each with their own hurdles, and because of this experience, I was able to adapt and succeed with this new programming language.” 

Two lecturers made a particular difference to Faizel as he went through the programme. 

“I'd like to take a moment to thank both Krissi Wood and Grayson Orr for their exceptional teaching styles, their willingness to always offer assistance whenever it was needed, and for making their courses a fun and enjoyable experience. These efforts were invaluable to me as a student and I can't express how much I appreciate it.” 

Faizel is a strong believer in finding your drive and following your passion. 

“If you’re considering studying at Otago Polytechnic, let the passion you have within drive your decision for the next chapter in your life. As long as you do what makes you happy, nothing else matters.”