The opinion piece entitled “First Year Defined” sounds more like ‘First Year Mislead’ if you ask me. Once again all first years are being labelled by an individual, an extremely mislead individual at that too. The scary part of this is that anyone worldwide has access to read the utter nonsense as it is posted on a blog site. I feel ashamed to be seen next to anyone who disrespects Rhodes University in this manner. People with this mentality should rather give up studying now before anymore of their ‘precious’ time is wasted. I have sat next to people who get firsts when they are not out partying and when they do party and miss lectures they barely scrape through. Rhodes has a system that has worked for many years now and I am sure will continue to work for many more years to come. If ‘Lord Harold III’ believes anyone will ever take his advice seriously he had better start looking for another career as there is no place for this kind of mentality in journalism!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Coping with first year!
“First years only do assignments the day before and are generally slack”
Although my argument for, “first years only do assignments the day before and are generally slack” is a very generalised comment, I believe most first years are victims of this. First years tend to procrastinate and leave all their work for the last moment, possibly because they have done it before in high school and gotten away with it, so they think that varsity is no different. Once you start doing an assignment the day before and obtain a really pleasing mark, you have this idea in your mind that it will always work, and you find yourself using the most over rated statement at varsity, ‘I work well under pressure” which in my opinion is just pure luck! Trust me, one day it will catch up to you.
Being a first year is not as easy as it sounds, and most first years tend to take a lot of things for granted, including their work. Finding the balance between academics and social life is one of the most challenging parts of being a first year, and the ideology that ‘first year is easy’ is utter nonsense. Each individual is different, and it is only fair to believe the ideology once you have passed first year with flying colours and can look back and have no regrets. Many first years don’t take their courses seriously, and as a result they end up failing certain subjects and have to fall back a year. Most first years don’t realise that all the assignments add up in the end and this could determine whether you pass or fail your subject.
After observing several students in the jacaranda labs the night before an assignment was due, I noticed that most of them were not really interested in the content of their work as they were rushing to finish on time and printed their work without even proof reading. You cannot produce work to your full ability when you do it last minute, as most assignments require thorough research and well thought out arguments. If you are pressed for time, you neglect this factor, and the only worry on your mind is “will I finish on time?” .This results in assignments being slack and lecturers having to question us on our ability to write assignments.
Ever heard of the quote, “if you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else”. Well most first years are very enthusiastic when they come to university and don’t really know what they want. Although it’s quite normal to have these mixed feelings, especially since they only in first year and not expected to make life long decisions, they should at least know that they are here to attain a degree and by neglecting the most important part of university, which is academics, they could risk losing their place at varsity.
First years are generally overwhelmed by the incredible opportunities available and seek advice from almost everyone. While this is advisable, sometimes getting the wrong advice could mess up your perceptions of certain aspects of varsity life and could change your view on how to tackle first year, especially with work. In my opinion, I think that even though some subjects are more demanding than others, you should dedicate enough time to studies and do assignments in advance to prevent them from being slack.
Although my argument for, “first years only do assignments the day before and are generally slack” is a very generalised comment, I believe most first years are victims of this. First years tend to procrastinate and leave all their work for the last moment, possibly because they have done it before in high school and gotten away with it, so they think that varsity is no different. Once you start doing an assignment the day before and obtain a really pleasing mark, you have this idea in your mind that it will always work, and you find yourself using the most over rated statement at varsity, ‘I work well under pressure” which in my opinion is just pure luck! Trust me, one day it will catch up to you.
Being a first year is not as easy as it sounds, and most first years tend to take a lot of things for granted, including their work. Finding the balance between academics and social life is one of the most challenging parts of being a first year, and the ideology that ‘first year is easy’ is utter nonsense. Each individual is different, and it is only fair to believe the ideology once you have passed first year with flying colours and can look back and have no regrets. Many first years don’t take their courses seriously, and as a result they end up failing certain subjects and have to fall back a year. Most first years don’t realise that all the assignments add up in the end and this could determine whether you pass or fail your subject.
After observing several students in the jacaranda labs the night before an assignment was due, I noticed that most of them were not really interested in the content of their work as they were rushing to finish on time and printed their work without even proof reading. You cannot produce work to your full ability when you do it last minute, as most assignments require thorough research and well thought out arguments. If you are pressed for time, you neglect this factor, and the only worry on your mind is “will I finish on time?” .This results in assignments being slack and lecturers having to question us on our ability to write assignments.
Ever heard of the quote, “if you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else”. Well most first years are very enthusiastic when they come to university and don’t really know what they want. Although it’s quite normal to have these mixed feelings, especially since they only in first year and not expected to make life long decisions, they should at least know that they are here to attain a degree and by neglecting the most important part of university, which is academics, they could risk losing their place at varsity.
First years are generally overwhelmed by the incredible opportunities available and seek advice from almost everyone. While this is advisable, sometimes getting the wrong advice could mess up your perceptions of certain aspects of varsity life and could change your view on how to tackle first year, especially with work. In my opinion, I think that even though some subjects are more demanding than others, you should dedicate enough time to studies and do assignments in advance to prevent them from being slack.
First years are not interested in politics!
The fact that I am at Rhodes University this very instance is proof alone that this statement is untrue. I am 32, have two kids, a lovely wife and, I am also a white male living in post apartheid South Africa.
I am embedded in politics. I have lived it, eaten it, dreamt it and this year I have begun to study it. I am often asked the question, “How did you end up at Rhodes, what made you want to study NOW?” To answer this question has always being difficult for me, even now. Realizing that the answer is so complicated because the situation I find myself in has been developing ever since the day I was born.
It is no coincidence that my main subjects include Economics, Politics and Journalism. I am extremely concerned with the state of South Africa and hopefully by the end of my lifespan at Rhodes, instead of being a ‘burden’, I will be better equipped to aid in the many political battles this country faces.
Some may think I have a chip on my shoulder after reading the first paragraph of this opinion piece, maybe I do. I think otherwise. People are being discriminated against on a daily basis. People of all colours, race, gender and whatever else the human race has been classified as. If I truly had a chip on my shoulder I would not still be living in South Africa. Like so many other South Africans, I would have immigrated long ago. I have family in England who are always trying to persuade me to move over there, friends in Australia have continuously begged me to immigrate. The truth is my heart is for South Africa.
There’s a great movie you should hire if you have not seen it yet, Blood Diamond. One of the lines in this movie has stuck with me for some time now. There is a belief that the red sands covering most of South Africa and Africa for that matter are caused by all the blood that has been shed, the wars that have been fought over the land we call home. Blood, sweat and tears are still being shed on a daily basis. The human race does not seem to learn from past mistakes.
I would like to live in a world where no-one gets discriminated against, a place where the only concern is for the person who does not have a plate of food in front of him/her every night. There are large debates since the beginning of time relating to the topic of humans, life and how one should be treated. Personal gain is not a problem as long as there are no ‘casualties of war’. The advantage gained of some is to the detriment of another, this is not OK!
Responding to the statement at the top of the page, “first years are not interested in politics”, this is surely not true for all and I hope in my opinion above I have managed to convince most who read it that politics is a concern and interest for all who live in South Africa and surely all who live in the rest of the world.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The latest rant of Terri - Princess of Denial (as well as the universe and all things cute and fluffy).
SO, this is my second personal blog, I guess its pretty evident that I find this whole blogging fiasco to be quite cathartic. I'm just a little bothered about something.
You see, the thing I hate most about first year is the loneliness. I've never been lonely - I guess that's the problem... I always had my group of friends at school, and I never felt completely alone in a room full of people. Here at Rhodes though, I constantly feel oblivious in crowds, unnoticed, unapreciated and strangely mute.
You put on your best dress, your pretty shoes, you do your hair and you make an effort to look spritely and interesting. But it never really matters, nobody sees the real you. And the scariest thing is knowing that they probably don't want to. The music is always too loud and no matter how hard you try, you never seem to stand out. I never had this problem, I'm a pretty damn wierd individual, and I never had to fight for attention. But its not enough here. And I find myself partaking in the lamest of all pursuits - that for attention - unconciously. I cant help it... I speak louder, I dress funnier and I make more effort than I should in talking to people.
I had a bit of an epiphany last night amidst the cloud of smoke and hormonal force that is the Rat and Parrot. I realised I dont want to be this person that fights for attention. I mean, I've got through the better part of 19 years being myself - Im not going to let anyone here change me. If people dont like it they can step on an active landmine for all I care. Id rather be lonely than desperate.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Poverty Stricken in the 21st Century
Governments have been ‘prioritising’ poverty for many, many years now. I am a little confused though. I don’t need to drive far before I am surrounded by communities living out of tin shacks. The last time I checked this is the 21st century, a time where technologies and resources are made available beyond comprehension. You might ask what this has to do with alleviating poverty, that this is only the consequences of poverty but when last have you tried living out of a tin shack? The experience is surely demoralizing. Low moral and low self-esteem do not benefit in the gain of work. This is not a criticism towards the government of all countries; this is an appeal to set priorities straight. Put aside internal disputes and aim for a better life for all, this is the least one is allowed to ask for.
View the following link for more on poverty in South Africa http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-10-01-presidency-not-enough-done-to-address-poverty
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Epic Tale of Masta Jay
Josh Martin, also known as Big Jay or Masta Jay, is a naturally charismatic and friendly, yet still strangely enigmatic person. It is obvious that below the surface, tucked away below his happy face and cheerful smile, lies a powerful intelligence and a witty sense of humour. The combination of these characteristics makes him an undeniably interesting person to interview and adds a certain flavour to his tale of his first year at Rhodes. Maybe not the biggest looking person in the world, his weight is deceiving, because he has assured me a good few times now that he weighs “like a hundred dude!” What can I say, looks are deceiving…
When asked what made him decide to attend Rhodes, Josh answers with a “well… it had always been my plan to attend Rhodes to study journalism,” and then with a wry chuckle, “well that’s gone to the dogs!” With a quick movement Josh flicks his head in order to remove the fringe of blonde hair that had managed to creep into his eyes and begins to tell of how he was initially keen to study drama, as that was always his first love, but he thought journalism would offer a more stable career path. “I have absolutely no idea why,” he adds with a questioning look followed by another chuckle.
Josh unpacks his Rizla and tobacco and begins to roll a cigarette as the interview continues. By this point it had become obvious that journalism was not one of the highlights of his first year at Rhodes, so I thought it a prudent time to enquire what exactly he had enjoyed most. Josh does not hesitate for a second to supply his answer: “definitely the vibe,” he says. He explains that because he came from a conservative community (Pietermaritzburg in Kwa-Zulu Natal) he never really felt completely comfortable but in comparison Rhodes is very “chilled about wearing whatever you want to wear and doing whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it.” Then came a deep, thoughtful look as Josh considered his next statement, which was, “Rhodes isn’t obviously all about the jolling, it’s also about work. This year I found I have been able to channel the things I am good at into my work more than I was able to do at school. I have been able to channel my creative energies more effectively which has definitely helped my academics.” Like I have said, he is definitely not lacking in intelligence, as can be seen from that statement.
My next question was: “if you could go back in time, what single thing would you do differently?” Josh’s answer to this surprised me a bit because it was not the type of answer I expected from him. He said that if he could do one thing differently he would have been more disciplined, not in the area of work as is a common wish, but rather in his drama auditions. When I asked him to elaborate on this comment he explained that he is by nature a joker and so he jokes around all the time, and as a result ended up making something very important to himself into a big joke. I sensed an aura of self-disappointment lingering around this facet of his year at Rhodes but fortunately being the incredibly talented actor that he is he will undoubtedly have many opportunities to prove himself in the future.
The single biggest factor for Josh’s survival through first year at Rhodes has, according to him, been his friendship group. He says that he can manage the workload and the pressures by himself, but said that, “in down moments I need to talk to people and without mates I would have been in some trouble. I literally wouldn’t have gotten this far.” At this point Josh decided that he needed to listen to a certain a song, and although I do not know the name of the song, it is an old-time classic and its jovial tone adds to the cheerful atmosphere of the room. His taste in music is different to what I usually listen to as he goes for a more “bungie” feel which suits him completely.
There are not many people that can keep you entertained by a mixture of humour, wit and originality for an extended period of time, but Josh Martin is without a doubt one of these people. I will never pretend to fully understand him because he is truly unique, but it is because of this face that I am proud to call myself his mate.
Pistol Pete
When asked what made him decide to attend Rhodes, Josh answers with a “well… it had always been my plan to attend Rhodes to study journalism,” and then with a wry chuckle, “well that’s gone to the dogs!” With a quick movement Josh flicks his head in order to remove the fringe of blonde hair that had managed to creep into his eyes and begins to tell of how he was initially keen to study drama, as that was always his first love, but he thought journalism would offer a more stable career path. “I have absolutely no idea why,” he adds with a questioning look followed by another chuckle.
Josh unpacks his Rizla and tobacco and begins to roll a cigarette as the interview continues. By this point it had become obvious that journalism was not one of the highlights of his first year at Rhodes, so I thought it a prudent time to enquire what exactly he had enjoyed most. Josh does not hesitate for a second to supply his answer: “definitely the vibe,” he says. He explains that because he came from a conservative community (Pietermaritzburg in Kwa-Zulu Natal) he never really felt completely comfortable but in comparison Rhodes is very “chilled about wearing whatever you want to wear and doing whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it.” Then came a deep, thoughtful look as Josh considered his next statement, which was, “Rhodes isn’t obviously all about the jolling, it’s also about work. This year I found I have been able to channel the things I am good at into my work more than I was able to do at school. I have been able to channel my creative energies more effectively which has definitely helped my academics.” Like I have said, he is definitely not lacking in intelligence, as can be seen from that statement.
My next question was: “if you could go back in time, what single thing would you do differently?” Josh’s answer to this surprised me a bit because it was not the type of answer I expected from him. He said that if he could do one thing differently he would have been more disciplined, not in the area of work as is a common wish, but rather in his drama auditions. When I asked him to elaborate on this comment he explained that he is by nature a joker and so he jokes around all the time, and as a result ended up making something very important to himself into a big joke. I sensed an aura of self-disappointment lingering around this facet of his year at Rhodes but fortunately being the incredibly talented actor that he is he will undoubtedly have many opportunities to prove himself in the future.
The single biggest factor for Josh’s survival through first year at Rhodes has, according to him, been his friendship group. He says that he can manage the workload and the pressures by himself, but said that, “in down moments I need to talk to people and without mates I would have been in some trouble. I literally wouldn’t have gotten this far.” At this point Josh decided that he needed to listen to a certain a song, and although I do not know the name of the song, it is an old-time classic and its jovial tone adds to the cheerful atmosphere of the room. His taste in music is different to what I usually listen to as he goes for a more “bungie” feel which suits him completely.
There are not many people that can keep you entertained by a mixture of humour, wit and originality for an extended period of time, but Josh Martin is without a doubt one of these people. I will never pretend to fully understand him because he is truly unique, but it is because of this face that I am proud to call myself his mate.
Pistol Pete
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)