Pre-varsity tutorial

Looking back from the front seat

Your life has practically been planned for you all this time and all, if not most, of your decisions were made by your parents and your biggest decision was deciding what acne cream to use. Now the time has come for you to be independent and get used to mommy and daddy’s leash being untied; it’s time to think about your future and what you want to do and be in life.

The main thing is not to worry or feel despondent just because you are still undecided and don’t know what to do with your life. Make sure that you choose a degree that goes along with your personality and not just a degree that will bring you wealth because at the end of the day, money only brings you temporary happiness. Choosing a course is a very vital decision that requires a lot of thought and introspection. Avoid making a decision based on what your parents or friends want you to do because it’s your future and at the end of the day you will be the one stuck with a career that you may not be happy with…remember that it doesn’t matter what degree you choose because you can easily change it, a degree in something doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be stuck in that field. It’s never too late to change a degree and you can into any field you want to as long as you have the right qualifications or enough experience. When it comes to subject choices, ensure that you choose subjects that interest you and in order to avoid choosing arbitrary subjects that you will end up bunking or failing due to boredom, rather go to the introductory lectures the school offers in the beginning of the term.

This may seem like a hard decision but it’s chilled, you can do it! If all your predecessors did it and survived to tell the tale then so can you, so just relax and think carefully about where you want to see yourself in the next few years. There is no perfect degree, you choose a degree but what you make of it is up to you. Good luck.

Keep it real
Nae-Nae aka Da Naesh

Dear my friend

Remember all those times you spent day dreaming about what you going to do once you got to varsity? How you were so excited to leave home and be on your own; be independent? Well the wait is finally over and its time for you to spread your wings and fly! You are about to begin an incredible journey for yourself in which everyday will be a different and hopefully exciting experience. You will learn so much about yourself and it is here that you will realise what your likes and dislikes are; you will have the opportunity to find your inner self, make lifelong friends, make decisions on your own, and be answerable for all your actions. As you commence on this journey, you have to bear in mind that you are coming here to create a future for yourself, so be optimistic and open to everything. I hope to give you the best possible advice so that you don’t make the same mistakes that I did. Firstly, you are coming to Rhodes to attain a degree, so let that be your priority. Choose your subjects well from the start, and get advice from as many people as possible, but at the end of the day, do what makes you happy, and choose a career that will let you wake up each day with a smile on your face and make sure you love what you are doing! On the other hand, you are also yet to experience campus life, and don’t take this for granted. Make as many friends as you can, you will meet so many different types of people, and show an interest in everything, do not be ignorant of the cultures around you. Take time to appreciate those small things because at the end of the day the time you spend at varsity is priceless, and it should be treasured, and not taken for granted. This is your time, use it wisely and do not be scared to be yourself, this is your chance to find out who you really are. Good luck in everything you do, and know that there will always be people out there who care and who are willing to listen. I have faith in you, and always remember that there is nothing that you will be tomorrow that you do not start today.

Yours truly
Nasreen

A letter of Blindsight

Hey Pistol Pete

You haven’t ever heard the name before, I know, but this year it is one of several you will pick up along the way. I know you are wondering if you made the right choice in choosing to attend Rhodes and the answer to that is a simple yes. Not because you will attain a measure of clarity as to exactly what you want to do with your life, or will accomplish anything that would be regarded as significant to anyone else except for yourself, but rather because you will learn life lessons that cannot be described merely with words and make friendships that cannot be measured by a price tag because they will come to mean more to you than all the money in the world, even though, unfortunately, you will not develop the ability to express this to them throughout the course of the year.

Sport is going to feature an incredible amount in your life during the upcoming year my man and you will learn to rely on it, as well as time spent in the gym, possibly more than any other single factor, other than your friends. Speaking of which, take the time to step away from your fundamental friendship group and spend time with others because some of the most amazing times of your life will happen with them. Do not, however, forget the friends you have had for a longer span of time than the ones you will make at Rhodes, because they will also account for a lot of the happiness you will experience throughout the year.

I guess this is the part where I should tell you to completely avoid all forms of fighting, but I know you won’t take my advice anyway so you will have to learn to live with the regrets just as I have. I can tell you though that some of the mistakes you make will shape your personality in ways you never thought possible and develop friendships born from common ground, as well as ones that spring from the fires of a heated, but undeserved dislike. Keep an open mind, work hard, play hard and above all just relax and let yourself have fun.

Keep it real man.

Pistol Pete

Dear Past-Terri

This is future Terri. I won’t pretend to have some infinite wisdom to give you, because even now you’re not too good at lying. If anything, I’m far more confused than you are right now. Before I begin, I want to let you know that I think your great, and that’s why I’ve worked so hard not to change you, even though its been a challenge. I’m not going to tell you to avoid doing/ do anything specific – you need to go through this all yourself.

When you get here, you’ll finally realise what its like to start over afresh – and it will be the scariest thing you’ve ever experienced. You think that you’re fairly independent, but you aren’t. When you get here you’ll realise what its like to do things for yourself, having no one like mom to help you through. People will let you down, you won’t make friends immediately, and the work will almost succeed in submerging you. However, it’s not all bad. If your patient you’ll find a few great friends and you’ll learn that you don’t have to conform to the generic persona of the “popular” for people to like and respect you. Adapting is tough, and people generally won’t be as sympathetic as you’d think. Many of your friends will reach breaking point, and you’ll have to be strong for them when you feel just about ready to implode with the pressure yourself; but it’s the most worthwhile thing you will ever do.

The amount of freedom that will reveal itself to you is unlike anything you’ve ever imagined; enjoy it, but remember that it has the power to break you. Keep your priorities clear and don’t allow anyone to make you lose sight of them. Enjoy everything your doing now, I look back now and miss the simplicity and sense of wonder I lost when I got here. But I’m so glad to have started this life, to have learned some valuable (albeit painful and time-consuming) lessons and to have finally figured out that I’m going to be fine.

You’re making the right choice in coming here. And whenever you feel ready to give up, remember that I’m sitting here in our room with a Coke Light and a heart full of faith in you. Good luck!
Lots of future-love
Terri
PS: Eat less cookies. Nobody likes a fattie.

A Letter To A Friend

25 September 2008

To,

A Friend

This letter is not intended to scare you but rather to encourage you.

Every single person at Rhodes is here to learn, irrespective of race, gender and age. Your commitment is three to four years, never forget this. Take it one step at a time − day by day, week by week, month by month, term by term, semester by semester and year by year.

Aspire to climb great heights. Every time you pass the Journalism and Media Studies building, place yourself on the third floor balcony at the end of a hard working day with a cigar in one hand and a glass of scotch in the other, enjoying the sunset as if it were your last.

It only takes one muscle to smile upon your neighbour. Thank your lecturer and don’t forget about your tutor. Don’t close your eyes too long, blink only when you must as time here at Rhodes seems to disappear so fast. If you become an addict, I pray it to be coffee…DON’T DO DRUGS. Perhaps wisdom does come with age, but knowledge is gained through your readings. When you’re up all night completing an assignment, thank God you’re amongst the selected few.

The day you are given the opportunity to make a difference in this wonderful world we live in, remember those less fortunate, grab hold of the opportunity, leaving behind far greater memories than mere grades on a piece of paper. When you finally walk off the stage, your hat on your head, robe trailing behind you, let the witnesses of the day be awe-inspired by what you have achieved ─ “I AM LEGEND”.

Good luck for the future. May you achieve all the goals you have set out to achieve. Hold your head up high, be proud of who you are and even more proud of who you are about to become.

From,
A Friend.