I am Serafina, a 45 years old Mozambican mother of four children. I am the last born of nine siblings- two brothers and six sisters. When I look back at my past (childhood), I remember a dream goal of being a lawyer like my father. So whenever an uncle, aunty, or any other person asked me," What do you aspire to be when you grow up”? I would say: I want to be a lawyer! Life takes a different path, not the way we expected it to be/the way we desired. According to our reality and social circumstances, it (the life) draws on its own way.

I became the mother of my first child when I was 20 years old. Before that, I never worked in my life! I never stopped taking short professional training courses such as Call center help desk, Human Resources, computers, accounting and English as a second language, and so on. Suddenly, I had to apply those skills to my first job when the father of my daughter abandoned me. I had nowhere to go. I remember waking up one day, asking one of my sisters to draw a CV for me, and believe it or not, I got my first job at Sasol Petroleum Temane (one of the best oil and gas companies in Mozambique back then) with the best salary ever! From then on, I did not stop. I would like to tell the story of my life to the end, but it wouldn’t finish today! 

From the very beginning of my career, I always had good job opportunities and the best contacts, but then, the network changed and so did time. At a certain point, if "we don’t update our skills”, the life-long professional skills get stuck and we lose the capacity to respond to new professional demands and mutation in the work environment. I filled supporting positions/titles but the position of leader or manager always eluded me. In 2014, I enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program, and, of course, I studied Law! Being a mother of four kids, spouse, student, and worker wasn’t easy! But, I did manage to be good in those roles and nailed it. I completed my Bachelor’s in August 2019. From that moment, my batteries charged again, I felt that it was the beginning of the opportunity to continue my career growth. The need to be in a Management position grew by then. That motivated me to enroll in this program at UniAthena and I am confident that it can help me to realise my career goals.

I want to be able to identify, respond, and contribute professionally with my management skills by changing a company’s management situation, improving the target results, and achieving the company or organization's mission. I would like to be the person who can save a company from a critical situation to a Successful Organization! I am eager to learn how to solve critical problems and bring solutions.

I enjoy taking care of my garden, listening to music and reading articles (any kind)! These interests keep me updated and well-informed.

Water, seeds (various), and books (with different types of information).

First, I try to solve the problem on my own, and would only seek advice if that problem affects the organization's principles, mission and goals. I always like to feel that I am capable of solving any kind of problem at work. And when I solve the problem without including Managers, I remain satisfied and confident.

There were times that I lived in a rented house and did not have a job contract. I had to sell my car worth USD 7500 at that time for USD 5000. I moved to a smaller house, saved money and started to buy cheap second-hand cars, got them fixed, and sold at higher prices. That was my source of survival. I lived like that for four/five years, managed to improve my living, and did many things to my benefit with the business. I only stopped when I got a long-term contract.

I am happy with the person that I became! I wouldn’t change a thing. “We learn through our mistakes”. Life with no challenges does not build a strong and determined person. So, I like to be me!

I am laughing alone here…writing my answers…Well, without knowing, I answered the question previously! I always wanted to be a Lawyer!!!

Oh my God! It feels like we spoke before I read the questions… I read an encyclopedia and watched a series of Law and Justice (of criminal cold cases)episodes.

My deceased father always taught me that I had to study and work hard to pay my own bills and not depend on others. He was a very good life mentor! I am 45 years old, and I still feel that I have not yet reached the stage of my life that would make me feel complete and fulfilled. I am strong enough (I consider myself a resilient person) and a fighter. Inspired by my father, the more I climb, the higher I need to reach!!!