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SUCCESS STORY

Bevon Grant

Electrical Engineer

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) – Electrical & Computer Engineering

  1. What is your name?

My name is Bevon Grant

  1. What is your career?

Currently, I work as an Electrical Engineer in the Electricity Generation and Distribution Industry.

  1. What was your area of study?

By the grace of God and with the help of my parents, the Department of Advanced Training and Advisory Services (DATAS) and other persons, I was able to complete two (2) undergraduate degrees. My second degree was the Bachelor of Science (BSc.) Degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering, which I pursued at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Saint Augustine Campus.

  1. What qualifications are needed for your career path?

To become an Electrical Engineer in most, if not all, companies in the Electricity Generation & Distribution Industry, the only prerequisite is a degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university or college. To qualify for this programme at the UWI, some persons go through the route of completing Sixth (6th) Form, receiving good enough grades in Mathematics and Physics in particular. Other persons qualify for the programme by completing Pre-Engineering Courses or other qualifications (like the Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technician Diploma) that are considered by the university.

  1. What motivated your choice of study and career path?

I have to go way back in the memory archives to remember what motivated my choice of career path.  Growing up, I had no clue what career path I wanted to pursue. I remember being in Third (3rd) Form at Scarborough Secondary School and feeling a bit worried about this because I was approaching the time to select subjects and consequently decide on my career path.

However, one day, while doing research for a school project, I happened to come across some information on Electrical Engineering, in one of the volumes of the Merit Students Encyclopaedia. Now at that time, I had never met an Electrical Engineer but from the little that I read about the profession in that encyclopaedia, it piqued my interest enough to choose subjects for Fourth (4th) Form like Physics and Electrical and Electronic Technology.

I am really grateful for excellent Teachers like Ms Yorke (Mathematics), Ms Benjamin (Physics) and Mr Moore (Electrical and Electronic Technology) among others. Especially Mr. Moore who on a particular occasion took my Electrical and Electronic class on a field trip to the Scarborough Power Station. That was significant for me because not only was it my very first exposure/introduction to Electricity Generation but it confirmed for me then and there, that I wanted to become an Electrical Engineer.

  1. How has the DATAS Scholarship, Grant or Bursary impacted your experience?

I am so grateful for the help of DATAS in furthering my studies. I really cannot imagine how discomforting my experience would have been without it. My parents were not rich, so they worked extremely hard and struggled to be able to pay for me and my four (4) siblings to receive proper education.

The DATAS Bursary was a tremendous help to me and my parents because it significantly reduced that financial burden. In so doing, I was able to focus on my studies and not be distracted or have my plans derailed by lack of funds.

  1. How was the application process at DATAS?

Honestly, I can only vaguely remember the application process, which indicates to me that it was not a very long and difficult process.

  1. How was the follow-up support at DATAS?

The follow-up support was excellent. I communicated with DATAS mostly via telephone and there was always a friendly voice on the other end of the line. They called promptly to inform me when I should expect to receive financial support or to inform me of other pertinent matters. They even called to find out how my programme was going.

  1. How did you plan for additional financial support?

The Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) paid for my Tuition expenses and so the additional financial support from DATAS, helped with my living expenses. Those expenses included rent, food and travel, which were more or less the same each month. I therefore budgeted and used the DATAS support to offset some of these living expenses and also to help with books and other school materials that I needed.

  1. Describe your journey, and the efforts made to be where you are now.

“The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”

“Hard work never kill anybody.”

“The Journey of a thousand miles begins with one (1) footstep.”

Growing up, I always heard my parents saying these quotes and I also observed them living them out, so from early on, I knew the value of hard work and discipline. However, looking back, I can say that I have also proved in my own life, that hard work and discipline are invaluable for succeeding in any endeavour.

I was never the smartest guy in my class, but I have always tried to be among the hardest-working and most disciplined. This principle has helped me to excel in secondary school, at university and in other areas of life.

I remember when I got accepted to the UWI to read for the B.Sc. degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering, I was really excited but I was also a bit afraid because I knew that the programme I was about to embark on was very demanding. I was worried that I did not have what it took to succeed.

However, what I did know was that I had a God who was able to do exceedingly above what I could ask or think. I also knew that I had a very strong desire to succeed. So I prepared myself and committed not only to attend each and every class but also to sit in the front row of each class.  I committed to not wait for exams to approach for cramming to begin but to revise throughout the semester so that I understood the content. I committed to do everything to the best of my ability.

This commitment was not easy because it meant that I had to sacrifice a lot of things that I would have preferred to do in those moments. At times I wondered if I made the right decision to do this Degree. I even felt like giving up at times but thanks to God, I was able not only to stay the course but to excel. There were many persons in my class who were far smarter than me but thanks to God, the support of loved ones, and some good old hard work and discipline, I graduated top of my class.

  1. What do you like best about your job?

There are two main things that I like about my job:

(a) I work in a dynamic environment where I get the opportunity to utilize a lot of the theory that I learnt at University in a practical way.

(b) I feel as though what I am doing is significant because I get to help in providing a product (electricity), which is necessary for the good quality of life for my fellow Tobagonians.

12. How did you get your job?

I did not see any job advertisement however I nonetheless sent my Resume in to the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC), along with a letter indicating my interest in a job as an Electrical Engineer. I was contacted sometime after by T&TEC to be interviewed for an Engineering Assistant position. I was successful in the interview and I have worked in that position for about two (2) years at the Cove Power Station. Subsequently, I was interviewed for entry into T&TEC’s Engineer-In-Training Programme and was also successful. I graduated from that Programme after two (2) years and have been working as an Electrical Engineer at Cove Power Station for over a year now.

  1. If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? If not, what would you change?

I think I would. It is easy to think that the grass is greener elsewhere at times, but I feel contented where I am at present and grateful to be able to give back to the Island that raised me.

  1. What are some tips to give to persons wanting to follow your career path?
  2. Firstly, know your WHY. Why are you interested in this field? If you have a strong enough reason for pursuing this career path and you keep reminding yourself of that reason, then no matter the challenges you face along the way, you will most likely be able to stay the course and come out successful.
  1. If you are still in secondary school and in the process of choosing subjects, ensure to include subjects like Additional Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. Work hard to get good grades in these subjects.
  • Hard work and discipline will take you much further than just intelligence.

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