Before she ever set foot in a university lab, Jolindie Booysen was already wired for innovation. Growing up on a farm, she handed her dad tools and watched in awe as he built machines that brought the land to life. While others saw a tractor, she saw potential. While some kids asked “why?”, Jolindie asked “how?” That childhood curiosity led her to mechatronic engineering, a powerhouse field that fuses mechanical systems, electronics, programming, and data. Now in her final year at North-West University (NWU), she’s not only surviving the demands of her degree, she’s thriving, building, coding, measuring, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

In the conversation below, Jolindie opens up about the lessons she's learned, the modules that changed her, the long nights in the lab, and the advice she has for young women who are just as curious and courageous as she is.

What are you currently studying, and how did your childhood or upbringing influence your decision to pursue this field?

I am studying mechatronic engineering. My father is a farmer, and as a child, I would follow him around, hand him his tools, and just stare in awe at the way he built these incredible machines for the farm. He could make something out of nothing, at least that was how it seemed to me. But I quickly realised that farming was unfortunately not just building cool machinery. So that’s when I started researching what would allow me to do that all day, and then I discovered engineering.

What inspired you to choose Mechatronic Engineering as your field of study?

Of all the engineering fields, mechatronic engineering caught my eye due to its diversity. In mechatronic engineering, you learn a little bit about all engineering subjects, which opens so many doors in the real world. Not only that, but I wanted to learn everything there was to learn about engineering, and mechatronics allowed me to do that.

What has your experience been like studying Mechatronic Engineering at NWU so far?

I certainly learned a lot. Studying at NWU taught me how to be brave, to never give up and to always do my best. The material is challenging, but so interesting. There is nothing more rewarding than struggling with a difficult problem and finally figuring it out. Lecturers go out of their way to help you, especially if they can see you are doing your best.

Can you describe a day in your life as a Mechatronics student, between theory classes, labs, and group projects?

Each day, each semester and each year can be completely different. I am currently in my final year, which means lots and lots of time in the labs with fewer classes. In the first year, I remember the labs as a scary place I would see once in a while. Now it’s home. A typical day this last semester would be to go to class, where theory about the work is handled, and then afterwards go to the lab to work on a group project. After the lab, you usually go home or to the library to type out the report based on the lab, and then work on some homework or studying for upcoming tests. Some days I was in the lab from 7am to 5pm. Other days, I only had one class and then went home. Sometimes, you build a makeshift lab and work on projects until 3am. Each day comes with its own surprises.

What’s one module or subject that’s pushed you out of your comfort zone but made you grow the most?

Principles of measurement. This was a really interesting subject that wasn’t easy to grasp at first, but changed the way I think about data collection and analysis. In this module, we did crazy things like determine the RMS of a car by using a smartphone vibration measurement tool. Finding ways to measure things without direct measurement was a really interesting experience.

How has NWU helped you prepare for working in real-world industries like automation, manufacturing, or medical tech?

By working on projects in a similar way to what would be expected in the real world. At NWU, you are taught to think and act not as a student but as a professional. You are taught to solve problems professionally. You are also exposed to projects that might be found in real-world industries. Projects at NWU require you to adhere to industry standards and regulatory requirements. As part of the curriculum, you are also expected to do vacation work at an engineering company. This gives you an idea of what to expect after graduation and prepares you for the real world.

Mechatronics brings together mechanical systems, electronics, programming and data. Which part do you enjoy most, and why?

I used to enjoy mechanical systems most, because I understood them more; it’s visible. But then I got to know electronics. It was like the world suddenly made sense to me. Electronics are everywhere. Have you ever really thought what a computer is? And no, I’m not talking about ones and zeroes. What makes a computer work? I dare you to find out.

What advice would you give to high school students, especially girls, who are curious about engineering?

Get curious and satisfy that curiosity. Be brave. Don’t be afraid to do crazy projects. And for girls specifically, be even braver. There will be people who doubt you. That fear of failure, of having to prove myself, made me afraid to even try sometimes. Be brave enough to fail. And then get back up.

If you were a robot, what would be your most useful or quirky feature? 😄

If I were a robot, the robot would answer any random question you have about any subject, but it would hum a tune while thinking. It would probably hum melodies from old rock or jazz songs while thinking.