Civil Engineering student Zaid’s building blocks to success start with his trusty Mac

Watch as we catch up with postgrad student Zaid Karjikar who brings brains and brawn in pursuing his master’s degree in civil engineering with the help of his trusty Mac and Apple devices.

Pursuing a degree is one steady building block to creating a successful career. And taking it that step further to become a master in your trade is no small feat.

Juggling practical project work, a thesis and somehow balancing personal wellness can seem like a daunting bridge to cross – especially when coupled with a technically challenging degree in engineering.

Making it look like a breeze, watch as we catch up with bourgeoning civil engineer and master’s student Zaid Karjikar who shares how his trusty Mac and Apple devices get him through everything – from his thesis to the gym.

Zaid gives credit to the engineers he admired growing up for his inspiration.

“Growing up I always looked up to engineers – and I always thought that after school I’d most likely want to study engineering,” he shares.
“A funny story is, after high school, I realised that I didn’t get into engineering and I would have to choose one of my other options – and I chose computer science,” the 25-year-old explains. “I did it for one year – decided it’s not for me, re-applied and got into engineering and took it with both hands.”

Now, as a seasoned student in a routine with a keen analytical mind, Zaid always plans out his days, semester, and even full year in advance. “The things that go through my head when thinking about going back to campus is that I’m going to be basically working a nine-to-five,” he shares.

“I need to prep for presentations; I need to get my admin in order.”

Getting all this data in order alongside project data requires a machine that’s engineered to keep up. This is where Zaid relies on his powerhouse MacBook. From his admin work to his bigger projects – he finds the device is able to match his energy as he navigates his year ahead.

“I use a lot of the reminders on the calendar app,” he explains. “I’m all over the show, so I need to get my dates down and reminders set – otherwise I’ll get lost in all my work.”
a woman sitting at a table with a laptop

Synchronised

A feature that he’s grateful for helping him stay on track is the cross-device synchronisation offered by Apple devices.

“When you do something on one device, it carries over into the next,” he explains.

This he finds helps him get his notifications and reminders wherever he is – be it at home, on campus, or on the go.

When Zaid isn’t just checking on his reminders, he’s analysing heavy data work on his Mac: data that he collects in lab sessions – a process made seamless when assisted by his iPad and iPhone.

“I work in a lab and the iPad is my data collection machine. So, I use that to jot down notes and collect data,” he shares. “Then my iPhone, I take pictures with it – and then when I’m done with that, I go back to my machine – it’s all a back-and-forth process.”

However, while he uses his Mac as his desktop machine, it’s too much of a risk to take it into the lab, which is why he favours his mobile Apple devices for in-lab data collecting.

Apple devices haven’t just made his research studies and assignments easier, but they’ve also helped Zaid balance out time for himself and his wellness.

“I believe that you should lead a balanced lifestyle, and I believe that my Apple Watch and my Apple AirPods get their time to shine outside of academia and in the gym,” he enthuses.

“I spend maybe four or five days a week in the gym – so, that’s where they get their time to shine.”

As for other budding students looking to make their studies an efficient and smooth experience, Zaid highly recommends Apple – not just for the devices' power and versatility, but also their eco-friendly element.

“When I was in undergrad, I believed that you just use the MacBook to look at slides and use a pen and paper to write down notes,” he explains. “But, once I bought my iPad, that’s when I realised that you can do so much more.

One of the biggest benefits Zaid enjoys from his Apple products is their durability. “The positive impact that the Apple products have on everyday life is that these products are designed to last a long time. So, you're not wasting. You're not replacing them every two, three years,” Zaid shares.

“It’s actually more eco-friendly than to waste paper because once you use those notes to study for an exam, you get rid of it and never use it again. Whereas if you’re writing on an iPad – it’s an infinite piece of paper.”
a woman sitting at a table with a laptop

iStore Education, the only Apple Authorised Education Specialist in Africa, has deals and offers on iPads and Macs that are ideal for families and students.

Students are eligible to opt for iStore’s student discount offers available and, if you pair that with a trade-in discount, you can master your craft while building your savings.

Visit iStore today to learn more about the MacBook range and iPad range to help you prep for your uni year ahead.

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