Dear innocent young friend,
It’s been a long and winding road up and until now and it’s important to be prepared for the things that are yet to come. You are now approaching university and the life of a Rhodent. In this approach you also have to start preparing yourself for the challenges that lie ahead in first year at Rhodes University.
For the most of your life you’ve enjoyed parties and never thought about juggling between school and drunkenness. But in first year, you are face to face with the alcohol monster influencing your expected academic marks for the year. As I have learned this year, it is easy to forget why you’re at Rhodes. The Rat and the Union becomes your fear as you can not control the sudden urge to go socialise every weekend. But you have to keep your self-control and know when to stop. Don’t become an alcoholic and a drunk just because that’s what Rhodents are apparently known for. You are greater than that. Learn how to balance your social life and your academic work. Guilt will run your life if you fail tests just because you decided to go out and drink instead of studying. Don’t waste your parents’ money, Rhodes is too expensive for that. Remember the day you saw your matric results and realised you’re going to Rhodes? You’re on top of the world the day you see your name in the newspaper and a sigh of relief comes bursting out. That can happen again with the day you graduate from Rhodes, as long as you keep your social and academic life balanced.
Work hard everyday, especially with tests, assignments, essays and exams… but also reward yourself with a reasonable quantity to maintain a healthy, balanced life as a first year. Remember, everyday counts!
Your survival adviser in spirit,
Ettione
Friday, September 26, 2008
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3 comments:
Etto,
I could really relate to your 'letter to my younger self'. When one comes to Rhodes, one is immediately struck into its reputation so subscribed by the older generation and the media. The familiar notion that every Rhodent drinks themselves into a stupor every night and arrive 'hanging' in lectures. Little do people remember our academic brilliance. But, as a first year away from parents and strict schooling, we explore that 'alcohol monster' you dubbed so well. My letter warned my younger self of the date rape around campus. As a fresh newbie, we juggle our essays and assignments with Wednesday outings to The Rat and forget to have that balance. If we try too hard to fit into this reputation I think it will backfire on us. We need to realise that we are not at Rhodes for the beer.
Your letter is very much informative and educative.lf l was going to be a first year again, l would sure follow your advice because some of us were really confused about the whole university thing.My letter,just like yours, focuses on balancing schoolwork and social life, that is doing assignments on time and preparing seriously for the exams. I think thats the only way to survive the much dreaded first year.I certainly agree with you and l reiterate that every first year should remember why they are at varsity first before everything else.Keep the spirit and l am with you all the way.
Ettitone’s concerns are similar to mine ie the danger of miscalculating the balance between work and play to the detriment of the former. She expresses similar fears and anxieties, almost with a sense of desperation. Hard work and balance are the dominant themes. This message is delivered together with an intimidating list of don’ts, an attempt to induce guilt (wasting money) and a reminder of the Younger me’s matric achievements and desire to be a success at Rhodes. The fact that Younger Me has had previous success is used to encourage a repetition and to inform her, when discussing unacceptable behaviour, that she is “greater than that” All is not doom and gloom as a recipe for success, which includes a healthy social life, is presented together with the confident assurance that Younger Me will be a success.
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