{"id":7111,"date":"2021-03-11T16:57:44","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T14:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.synthesis.co.za\/?p=7111"},"modified":"2021-03-11T16:57:44","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T14:57:44","slug":"from-server-to-software-engineer-a-journey-of-perseverance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.synthesis.co.za\/from-server-to-software-engineer-a-journey-of-perseverance\/","title":{"rendered":"From\u00a0Server\u00a0to\u00a0Software\u00a0Engineer"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Journey of Perseverance<\/h3>\n

By Kim Furman, Synthesis Marketing Manager<\/p>\n

\u201cYour\u00a0mind\u00a0<\/span>is your biggest problem,\u201d says Rodney\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>\u00a0giving the rather unexpected answer to the question\u00a0<\/span>\u201cwhat advice\u00a0you would\u00a0give to someone in your shoes?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i>T<\/span>he shoes being referred to are those of not being able to afford to study and having this block your\u00a0<\/span>desired<\/span>\u00a0future.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mapako<\/span>\u00a0overcame his mind, financial difficulty and more to transition from\u00a0<\/span>restaurant employee<\/span>\u00a0to software engineer<\/span>. The recipe for success was a mixture of ambition\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0hard work backed by the kindness of strangers<\/span>, all\u00a0timed\u00a0to perfection.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a young boy growing up in Zimbabwe,\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>, intrigued by the allure of his father\u2019s computer, would constantly get into\u00a0trouble for\u00a0taking the mysterious machine apart and putting it back together<\/span>\u00a0again<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>From this time, h<\/span>is passion for technology\u00a0<\/span>has continued<\/span> to grow. But after finishing school, he was not in a financial position to go to university, nor in the academic position to obtain a bursary.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u00a0<\/span>made<\/span>\u00a0his way to South Africa<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0found work at<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the restaurant<\/span>\u00a0Caf\u00e9 Genesis.\u00a0<\/span>This would be the start of his journey into the\u00a0<\/span>restaurant<\/span> industry, which would<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>introduce him\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0people who would assist<\/span>\u00a0him on<\/span>\u00a0his journey to software development.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>While working\u00a0<\/span>at Caf\u00e9 Genesis<\/span>, he never gave up his technology dream.\u00a0<\/span>When\u00a0<\/span>Caf\u00e9 Genesis\u00a0closed down<\/span>, he made his way<\/span>\u00a0to the next restaurant,\u00a0Frangelicas<\/a><\/strong>, which would become his\u00a0<\/span>home<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mapako<\/span>\u00a0started saving<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>money<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>he<\/span>\u00a0made f<\/span>rom\u00a0<\/span>tips<\/span>. Two years later, he\u00a0<\/span>had enough money to take\u00a0<\/span>himself<\/span> to university, and<\/span>\u00a0he<\/span>\u00a0registe<\/span>r<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0for his childhood passion \u2013<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>C<\/span>omputer\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>cience degree<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with Unisa<\/span>. He never stopped learning from that moment until he\u00a0<\/span>completed<\/span>\u00a0his degree.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"From<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>It was not an easy journey<\/span>. I<\/span>n the\u00a0<\/span>restaurant<\/span>\u00a0industry<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0you\u00a0<\/span>work very<\/span>\u00a0long\u00a0<\/span>hours<\/span>. Nine to fifteen<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>hours a day and after that, you have assignments <\/span>waiting for\u00a0<\/span>you,<\/span>\u00a0projects waiting for\u00a0<\/span>you<\/span>. S<\/span>o<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0I came up with a plan. What I used to do was I woke up every<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>day in the morning\u00a0<\/span>at 3 am<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>before work<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0and I would study to make sure I was up to date with my\u00a0<\/span>schoolwork<\/span>\u00a0and do my assignment<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0and that\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>what got me through<\/span>,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>explains\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0During this time,\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>\u00a0became a\u00a0<\/span>well-known<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>well-loved<\/span> Frangelicas\u00a0employee. His customers would never know that one of their\u00a0favourite\u00a0people at their local haunt had been up since 3 am.\u00a0<\/span>He was always warm, welcoming and\u00a0energi<\/span>s<\/span>ed.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After two years of studying,\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>\u00a0would meet\u00a0<\/span>one<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0his<\/span>\u00a0first kind stranger<\/span>s<\/span>, Romi Levenstein, the Executive Director of Feed SA.\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>\u00a0shared his story with her. \u201c<\/span>I was really struggling<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>those days, and she offered to help<\/span>. F<\/span>or the past two years<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Feed SA<\/span>\u00a0has been paying my school fees all because I love tech, I love learning new things and I love to challenge myself.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The next<\/span>\u00a0kind stranger would lead\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>\u00a0to his dream job a<\/span>t a<\/span>\u00a0software development company, Synthesis Software Technologies. This stranger, like others, would quickly turn into his friend. Cas<\/span>si Gewer<\/span>\u00a0frequently visited\u00a0Frangelicas. One day he asked her what she was busy with and she showed him a\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span>ython code she was working on for her assignment\u00a0<\/span>o<\/span>n Machine Learning. This\u00a0<\/span>was the very same coding language he was learning.\u00a0<\/span>Gewer<\/span>\u00a0introduced\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>\u00a0to her boyfriend, Evan Rubin, who\u00a0<\/span>i<\/span>s a software engineer at Synthesis and another fast friendship was formed.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rubin advised\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to apply for the undergraduate program at Synthesis. Unfortunately, he did not make it\u00a0<\/span>past the rigorous selection criteria set for the grad program. I<\/span>nstead\u00a0<\/span>of feeling defeated,<\/span>\u00a0he\u00a0<\/span>proactively<\/span>\u00a0approached and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>greeted\u00a0<\/span>Jake Shep<\/span>he<\/span>rd, Synthesis Founder and Director<\/span>\u00a0by saying \u201c<\/span>Good morning.\u00a0<\/span>I applied for the grad program at Synthesis and\u00a0<\/span>unfortunately,<\/span>\u00a0I did not make it. I am redoubling my effort and\u00a0<\/span>my aspiration is to one day work at Synthesis.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0Shepherd<\/span>\u00a0said of this encounter \u201cBefore Rodney approached me<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0I\u00a0<\/span>was not aware of his interest in software development. However<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0I was aware of how\u00a0<\/span>appreciated\u00a0<\/span>and loved\u00a0<\/span>he is by everyone who knows him; clients and fellow staff members alike\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After personally interviewing Rodney<\/span>,<\/span> Shepherd<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>reached out to other team members at Synthesis to see if\u00a0<\/span>an appropriate position was available for Rodney.\u00a0<\/span>Synthesis has a policy of\u00a0hiring for\u00a0three character\u00a0traits \u2013 hungry, humble and\u00a0people smart.\u00a0<\/span>Mapako<\/span>\u00a0had<\/span>\u00a0all these and more.\u00a0<\/span>Shepherd<\/span>\u00a0said: \u201c<\/span>We\u00a0<\/span>can see\u00a0<\/span>that Rodney has huge potential, and he just need<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0an opportunity to start working full time in the soft<\/span>ware industry<\/span>\u201d<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Rodney has started working in a technical support role and\u00a0<\/span>can use this opportunity to solidify the <\/span>software theory he has\u00a0<\/span>gained<\/span>\u00a0through his\u00a0studies, but\u00a0can also start picking up new skills needed by the industry.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This\u00a0<\/span>was<\/span>\u00a0the end of his restaurant days<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0but it is just the beginning of the journey he started as a boy.\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>I hope to do cloud certifications (prestigious and difficult Amazon Web Services exams). After doing that, I hope to go into development and hopefully run my own company one day<\/span>\u00a0and also\u00a0<\/span>keep on learning<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>W<\/span>hen God i<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0looking after you everything happen<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0at the right ti<\/span>me<\/span>\u00a0and I thank\u00a0<\/span>G<\/span>od for that. I also want to thank the Jewish community<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>They\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>\u00a0kind,\u00a0<\/span>gen<\/span>erous\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>united<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>hey are such wonderful people<\/span>. T<\/span>hey are like family to me<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>E<\/span>veryone<\/span>\u00a0is willing to help if you tell them your\u00a0<\/span>problem<\/span>. E<\/span>veryone<\/span>\u00a0jumps in to help and chip in<\/span>. A<\/span>t Frangelica<\/span>s, they have been like a family to me<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>here are so many names to\u00a0thank<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>There have been a lot of people that have been there for <\/span>me and<\/span>\u00a0I have been lucky<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mapako<\/span> is an inspiration to everyone looking to overcome <\/span>obstacles<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>His story makes us wonder what dreams<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>commonalities<\/span>\u00a0lie be<\/span>hind<\/span>\u00a0the sur<\/span>f<\/span>ace of<\/span> the strangers we encounter.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>I worked\u00a0<\/span>hard<\/span>\u00a0to be here<\/span>. I<\/span>t has n<\/span>o<\/span>t been an easy journey, and<\/span>\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>all because I lov<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0tech\u00a0<\/span>and I<\/span>\u00a0wanted to cha<\/span>n<\/span>ge the industry I was in<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Y<\/span>our mind is your\u00a0<\/span>biggest<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>problem<\/span>\u00a0because in\u00a0<\/span>your<\/span>\u00a0mind that\u2019s where\u00a0<\/span>everything<\/span>\u00a0plays\u00a0<\/span>out<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and, in your mind,<\/span>\u00a0you tell\u00a0<\/span>yourself<\/span>\u00a0I can<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t do it because of this and that<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0there are so many excuses to tell yourself but if you put your mind to\u00a0<\/span>it,<\/span>\u00a0you can do it and if you can dream\u00a0<\/span>it,<\/span>\u00a0you can do it.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Journey of Perseverance By Kim Furman, Synthesis Marketing Manager \u201cYour\u00a0mind\u00a0is your biggest problem,\u201d says Rodney\u00a0Mapako\u00a0giving the rather unexpected answer to the question\u00a0\u201cwhat advice\u00a0you would\u00a0give to someone in your shoes?\u201d\u00a0The shoes being referred to are those of not being able to afford to study and having this block your\u00a0desired\u00a0future.\u00a0\u00a0 Mapako\u00a0overcame his mind, financial difficulty and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":7042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"ptype":[11],"sectors":[],"class_list":["post-7111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conversation","ptype-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFrom\u00a0Server\u00a0to\u00a0Software\u00a0Engineer - Synthesis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From\u00a0Server\u00a0to\u00a0Software\u00a0Engineer:\u00a0A\u00a0Journey of\u00a0Perseverance. Mapako\u00a0overcame his mind, financial difficulty and more to transition to software engineer.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthesis.co.za\/from-server-to-software-engineer-a-journey-of-perseverance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From\u00a0Server\u00a0to\u00a0Software\u00a0Engineer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From\u00a0Server\u00a0to\u00a0Software\u00a0Engineer:\u00a0A\u00a0Journey of\u00a0Perseverance. 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