SUCCESS STORY

Dopson Briggs

Civil Engineer II

B.Sc  Construction Project Management and Post Graduate Diploma in Civil Engineering

What is your name?

My name is DOPSON BRIGGS, and my career path is PROJECT MANAGEMENT and CIVIL ENGINEERING.

What was your area of study?

My area of study was in the Civil Engineering stream inclusive of Project Management and Construction Management where I did Certificates, Diploma, Degree and Post Graduate Programmes.

What qualifications are needed for your career path?

Qualifications needed for my career path are basically a degree in Civil Engineering to work as a Civil Engineer or a degree in Project Management to work as a Project Manager.

What motivated your choice of study and career path?

My choice of study and career path came from wanting to become an Architect since I was in Primary School because I wanted to build large buildings, I had a passion for Art and Crafts, and I always drew pictures from comic books. In high school, I did arts and crafts also Technical Drawing up to the CXC level and was successful. On leaving school I repeated some subjects and did new ones then I went on my search for success. In my search, I realised Architect was not being offered in Trinidad and Tobago so I in turn had to or was forced into the Civil Engineering stream.

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

Department of Advanced Training and Advisory Services (DATAS) Grant and Bursary gave me some assistance that was much appreciated. The Grant helped me a lot when I was most in need because travelling between Trinidad and Tobago every weekend for more than (3) three years was not an easy task but at the end of the day, I was grateful for the assistance. The funds were spent on transportation such as boat fare, airfare, and taxi fare as classes were in San Fernando on Saturday morning and evening only). Also, for accommodation when I travelled to Trinidad on a Friday evening and returned on a Saturday night, if lucky or most of the time on a Sunday, food, and other expenses such as books.

How was the application process at DATAS?

The application process at DATAS was very in-depth and intriguing, which took me some weeks to complete before final submission. The approval process took a while, then, about a year after I received the call to collect the cheque.

How did you plan for added financial support?

Added financial support was received through loans that I took from my Credit Unions and kept on refinancing until my degree came to some form of completion.

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

My journey was not an easy one, I could have turned back lots of times, but failure was not an option. When I left school, I repeated some CXC subjects and did some new ones until I passed. I desperately wanted to start my career as an Architect and a professional Artist because of my love and passion for them. Architectural Studies were not offered in Trinidad and Tobago, only regionally and internationally, which discouraged me a bit, but I was still destined for success. A Senior Supervisor working at URP was planning to start a course in Tobago and my mother while working there at the time put my name down to attend the Construction Technology course. Before starting the course, I had to get some form of experience in the field, so the senior supervisor linked me up with a Construction Company called SUNCO Construction responsible for clearing and developing the area in Bon Accord where the Mt Pleasant Credit Union, the Chinese Restaurant inclusive of the Housing Scheme area are located. I was employed for approximately (6) six months as a Chainman/Surveyor helper where I gained many experiences.

I started the course which was discontinued after a few months; cannot remember the reason but the Supervisor moved to Trinidad. I was back at square one with nothing to do but continue searching.

John Donaldson Technical Institute decided to conduct a Diploma course in Tobago named Civil Engineering Technician (CET) in Civil Engineering. I was recommended by the same URP supervisor, and everything skyrocketed from here. After working as a chainman, I did other odd jobs until I got employed with THA doing clerical work and completed another certificate course; National Technical Certificate (NTC) in Civil Engineering. I began working on promotion as a Construction Supervisor. I then decided to pursue a third Course in Civil Engineering, Higher National Certificate (HNC). This time I had to travel to Trinidad because it was not being offered in Tobago; all courses with John Donaldson Technical Institute stopped in Tobago. So, the travelling started every Tuesday night at 11:00 pm to 4:00 am on Wednesdays as those days it was the slow (5) five-hour boat travelling. The class was on Wednesdays after lunch to 4:00 pm and Thursdays all day. After classes, for two years, I got ready for the 11:00 pm boat leaving Trinidad to be in Tobago by 4:00 am.

On completing the HNC in Civil Engineering I fought to get another promotion. I tried to get into UWI more than once to do a Civil Engineering Degree but was unsuccessful twice and wondered how to get a bachelor’s degree. Word came out that a school in South, Trinidad named School of Higher Education Ltd. (SHEL) was offering a double master’s course in Civil Engineering and Construction Management, I immediately signed up and got accepted.  Within three years in trying to complete the course I also started a Degree in Construction Project Management and completed it in the same school. These courses allowed me to become a Civil Engineer after waiting more than 3 years to be certified.

What do you like best about your job?

The job allows me to help, meet, communicate, and learn from people of different stature. I am often called upon to solve and fix problems in construction and engineering.

How did you get your job?

I got my job after qualifying myself in the Civil Engineering field.

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

Yes, I would choose the same path if I was to do it all over because of my passion for the job.

What are some tips to give to persons wanting to follow your career path?

To follow my career path there must be no giving up no matter how difficult it gets and believe me, it will. But when success meets you, you will thank yourself.

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