Confidence and work in new environments
In celebration of the University of Namibia's (UNAM) 30th anniversary, alumni will be profiled to see how far they have come, the challenges they have faced and the achievements observed within their careers. This month, recently appointed Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) CEO Alisa Amupolo and Faghma Coetzee, who works for a High Court judge at the Royal Courts of Justice in the United Kingdom, share their experiences.
University of Namibia (UNAM) alumnus Faghma Coetzee shares her career journey and life experiences after UNAM.
Living in the United Kingdom (UK) for almost 21 years, Faghma Coetzee is making great moves and changes related to her career.
She works for a High Court judge at the Royal Courts of Justice in that country. Coetzee said there is a lot of uncertainty in the UK at the moment, she but remains positive about the future. When her partner at the time was offered an opportunity to work in the UK, they decided to make it their home and get married there.
Sharing her story, Coetzee said she gave birth to their first child and decided to stay at home to take care of her. Unfortunately, the couple had no family support in the UK, but she added that the services provided to young families meant that they made some good friends.
She continued staying home after the birth of their second child and went on to work part-time when they started nursery and school. Going back to work proved quite challenging as all the years of staying at home, taking care of the children, made her feel less confident in the workplace.
She began working part-time, which also had its advantages confidence-wise, but she said it was in a sector she didn’t see herself in long-term.
“Going back full-time has been a game-changer for me. Specifically working for the Ministry of Justice. I had no experience with the courts in the UK before this. I feel incredibly honoured to work in the Family Division of the High Court. Even more honoured working for a female High Court judge,” she said.
Coetzee registered at UNAM in 1993 but could only register for two subjects at the time. She took this option because she did not want to sit out a whole year, but also took the opportunity to work part-time in retail. She continued working part-time the subsequent years to pay for her studies. In 1993, Coetzee played for the UNAM Wildcats women’s basketball team and became the chairperson of the club. Thereafter, she was appointed the public relations officer of the Namibian Basketball Federation when it was established.
Other posts she occupied include the UNAM Student Sports Representative, while she also served on the Tertiary Institutes Sport Association of Namibia (TISAN) committee and was the manager for the men’s TISAN basketball team.
In 1995, she started working as a presenter at the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and in 1996, she was crowned Miss Namibia 1996. During this time, she took off from her studies to focus on her Miss Namibia responsibilities.
Coetzee believes university education should be made available to all. “University years are like no other years in your life. The transition from high school is a very big step and a different environment,” she said. Coetzee also urged students to pace themselves and work towards a work/play balance. “There are certain things I wish I had done better during my time at university, but my overall outlook on life is that everything we do is a learning experience. I’m very grateful for the wonderful lecturers whose classes I loved going to. I am inspired by their knowledge in the subjects they teach. I appreciate the university staff who keep the institution’s wheels in motion,” she added.
Living in the United Kingdom (UK) for almost 21 years, Faghma Coetzee is making great moves and changes related to her career.
She works for a High Court judge at the Royal Courts of Justice in that country. Coetzee said there is a lot of uncertainty in the UK at the moment, she but remains positive about the future. When her partner at the time was offered an opportunity to work in the UK, they decided to make it their home and get married there.
Sharing her story, Coetzee said she gave birth to their first child and decided to stay at home to take care of her. Unfortunately, the couple had no family support in the UK, but she added that the services provided to young families meant that they made some good friends.
She continued staying home after the birth of their second child and went on to work part-time when they started nursery and school. Going back to work proved quite challenging as all the years of staying at home, taking care of the children, made her feel less confident in the workplace.
She began working part-time, which also had its advantages confidence-wise, but she said it was in a sector she didn’t see herself in long-term.
“Going back full-time has been a game-changer for me. Specifically working for the Ministry of Justice. I had no experience with the courts in the UK before this. I feel incredibly honoured to work in the Family Division of the High Court. Even more honoured working for a female High Court judge,” she said.
Coetzee registered at UNAM in 1993 but could only register for two subjects at the time. She took this option because she did not want to sit out a whole year, but also took the opportunity to work part-time in retail. She continued working part-time the subsequent years to pay for her studies. In 1993, Coetzee played for the UNAM Wildcats women’s basketball team and became the chairperson of the club. Thereafter, she was appointed the public relations officer of the Namibian Basketball Federation when it was established.
Other posts she occupied include the UNAM Student Sports Representative, while she also served on the Tertiary Institutes Sport Association of Namibia (TISAN) committee and was the manager for the men’s TISAN basketball team.
In 1995, she started working as a presenter at the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and in 1996, she was crowned Miss Namibia 1996. During this time, she took off from her studies to focus on her Miss Namibia responsibilities.
Coetzee believes university education should be made available to all. “University years are like no other years in your life. The transition from high school is a very big step and a different environment,” she said. Coetzee also urged students to pace themselves and work towards a work/play balance. “There are certain things I wish I had done better during my time at university, but my overall outlook on life is that everything we do is a learning experience. I’m very grateful for the wonderful lecturers whose classes I loved going to. I am inspired by their knowledge in the subjects they teach. I appreciate the university staff who keep the institution’s wheels in motion,” she added.
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