Read the interviews below to find out how the 2007 Budget Speech Competition winners approached the competition and the essay writing process.
POSTGRADUATE WINNER | UNDERGRADUATE WINNER
2007 Postgraduate Winner: Lindokuhle Dingiswayo
Name: Lindokuhle Phumla Dingiswayo
Age: 25 years
University: North-West University (Vaal campus)
Where were you born? Sebokeng hospital in the Vaal Triangle
Where did you grow up? The Vaal Triangle
Why did you choose to study economics? I love the way economics clearly describes and portrays the current events of a country and the rest of the world.
What are you going to do with your prize? I would love to use it towards furthering my studies. Whether a masters degree or towards a CFA qualification.
Why did you participate in the Budget Speech Competition? The Budget Speech Competition was compulsory for us to enter at our campus. In addition, I wanted the challenge of researching and writing an essay that addressed an interesting topic and attempting to add a different view.
How did you approach your research? I dissected the topic to understand it better. Firstly this lead to understanding the topic as a whole, and secondly the subtopics that contribute towards the main topic. I included economic theory, the current situation of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME's) in South Africa and government initiatives aimed at promoting a positive environment in which they can flourish.
Did you set yourself deadlines or did you work on the essay as and when you had time? I had to schedule a specific time to work on my essay because there was other work assigned to us. I was also very involved in other activities such as being an assistant and facilitator for first year mathematics students and a chairperson of the Student Christian Fellowship (SCF). Therefore I had to balance my studies.
What was the most challenging part of writing the essay? The actual completion of the essay! After handing it in, we had an opportunity to improve it as best we could. Trying to do so while not adding too many pages became a challenge.
What advice do you have for this year’s contestants in the 2008 competition? Make sure that you understand the topic and question you need to answer. Use all your available resources to research the topic. Seek help from your lecturers as they have experience and knowledge about economics. Most of all, enjoy writing it!!
What next? At the moment I'm a cadet (graduate programme) at the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). I'm also studying towards an Advanced Diploma in Central Banking. I will be completing both by the end of this year.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? I desire to continue working at the SARB. In 5-years time I see myself more educated, experienced and qualified in the field of economics. This means living a well-balanced life between my work and family as well as making a significant contribution in my workplace, community & country.
2007 Undergraduate Winner: Frances Spies
Name: Frances Spies
Age: 23 years
University: Stellenbosch
Where were you born? Pretoria
Where did you grow up? We lived in Pretoria while I was in primary school, and in George during my high school years.
Why did you choose to study economics? In 2005 I started studying PPE (Political Science, Philosophy and Economics) because I wanted to understand how ideas evolve and how societies function. When I had to decide what to specialise in, Economics was the obvious choice because it is such a relevant, exciting, challenging and innovative field which encompasses many diverse areas of interest.
What are you going to do with your prize? I am still exploring my options. :-)
Why did you participate in the Budget Speech Competition? It is a wonderfully challenging and greatly rewarding opportunity. No other competition in South Africa enables you to visit parliament for the National Budget Speech, attend a banquet with the Minister of Finance where you can mingle with many of South Africa's most prominent business people, enjoy a fabulous three days with your peers at a luxurious hotel and, to stand the chance of winning a considerable amount of money for your effort.
I am definitely going to participate in the postgraduate category of the competition during the next couple of years.
How did you approach your research? Whenever I have to write an essay, I begin by reading as much as possible on the topic. Once I am more familiar with it, I attempt to identify the most important themes before considering and questioning my own position on the central issues. I then begin to select relevant facts from authoritative sources to develop and support my arguments.
Did you set yourself deadlines or did you work on the essay as and when you had time? I had to hand the essay in as part of our third year course just over a month before the final submission date, so I had an early deadline. This gave me the opportunity to look at my essay from a fresh perspective and to edit it just before handing it in.
What was the most challenging part of writing the essay? Determining which problems contribute most to South Africa's low savings rate and deciding how they could and should be addressed.
What advice do you have for this year's contestants in the 2008 competition? Don't hesitate to enter! Start early and approach your essay as an interesting and enjoyable learning opportunity, not as a complicated or unpleasant task. Approach the topic with an open mind and consider the relative merits of opposing arguments. Don't be reluctant to give your own opinion, but make sure that you substantiate it. Remember to reference properly :-)
What next? More studying, at least till the end of 2009.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Hopefully I will be doing interesting and stimulating work in developmental economics for an organisation like the Development Bank of South Africa.
