When Fallon Clare Manhanga arrived in Lithuania in 2016 to pursue her bachelor’s degree at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), she planned to return to Zimbabwe after graduation. However, life had its own way of unfolding. “Sometimes we plan, but God has different ideas,” she says with a smile. Years later, Fallon is still in Lithuania, working towards her PhD.
An opportunity to pursue further studies changed Fallon’s plans. “The first thing that made me stay was the master’s programme. I was offered a full scholarship by KTU International Office to do a master’s, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” she explains.
This led to her continuing with a PhD, a decision that, while unexpected, made sense. “Following that, the PhD sort of fell into my lap too,” adds Fallon.
Researching self-healing concrete
As Fallon points out, she has always been a motivated person, so the path she has chosen is not surprising. “I’d always wanted to study abroad so it never came as a shock to my family when I decided to leave,” she says.
Fallon notes, that an educational experience like this is life-changing and has taught her a lot about her character: “Although both those higher study cycles have been challenging, I don’t tend to back down from challenges.”
