From the students: Freedom

With this new lifestyle, comes a new kind of freedom. How are the students coping with it?

 

What I found really interesting was the sense of freedom that came with the programme, but it is important to understand and set boundaries for yourself. Ethan Dumas

Vandat ek hier is het ek dinge vir myself begin doen. Ek reis elke dag met ‘n trein na Stellenbosch en weet nou hoe om ‘n komper te gebruik en by ‘Word’ in te gaan. Christo Hendricks

This programme allows me to have a sense of freedom, but also allows me to have a sense of maintaining the freedom in a positive way by pushing me in the direction of my goal and giving me that ‘kick start’ to what I should expect next year. Lauren Frantz 

We all crave the freedom of enjoying everything we want in life, but this is not to be taken lightly. It is the determination for success that allows us to succeed. Hard work and commitment should be at its best. Warrick Sitzer

 

While in the programme, I have to be independent and adjust to the life here at the university. So through the programme I get to grow, because I am in a different environment. I grow emotionally, mentally and logically. Hlengiwe Memela 

Being a part of this programme will force me to be independent. Now I have to learn how to cook otherwise I won’t have anything to eat. At home I wasn’t allowed the luxury of budgeting my money. Now I have to be smart about the way I use money. Aviwe Hlasela

My life here has evolved in a positive way, because I have learnt to be responsible, believe in myself and having confidence towards my studies. Thando Somina

From the students: Friendship

The vast majority of our students came to the SciMathUS course at the beginning of the year without knowing a soul. This obviously added to the (already long) list of stresses that faced them at that time. But after a few weeks - especially after the camp - they seemed to already be a tight-knit group. Here are some of their opinions on the matter:

Ek was bekommerd oor vriende, maar ons almal by SciMathUS het baie vinnig vriendskapsbande laat ontwikkel. Dimitri Benting

 

Die beste deel van SciMathUS tot dusver is al die vriende wat ek gemaak het in so ‘n kort tyd. Mense wat, nes ek, dieselfde aanpassings en problem moes – en steeds moet – oorkom. Ek is daagliks omring deur mense wat my verstaan en saam met my ‘n droom deel. Hiervoor is ek bly. Carlynne Johnson 

Academic benefits aside, I believe that SciMathUS also gives one a chance to encounter new and fascinating people. - Ahmed Tamura

I am enjoying being around people from different places. Through their eyes and different attitudes, I am learning more about facts of South Africa and getting a glimpse of the different cultures. Andile Simanga

 

The group that I am in became like a family to me. I enjoy that working vibe during class and how we help each other. It makes you feel at ease knowing that you are surrounded by people that are in the same situation as you. Lauren Ruiters 

SciMathUS is my temporary family and support system. Dane Damonze

From the students: Campus life

Packing your bags and moving from home to a university campus is a big change. Not all of our students live on campus, though. For the students from different provinces, we provide housing on campus. This means they have to cook, clean and do their own washing, which can be daunting - as you will see from their feedback. Other students have to commute to and from campus daily by train or bus (or both!). This is also very straining for these students. I want to make use of this opportunity to applaud all the students for their impeccable class attendance despite these circumstances. Thus far, 2013 has been an exceptionally good year for class attendance.

But whether the students stay on campus or not, they are on campus and part of campus life from 08:00 to 17:00 every day. Here are some of their stories regarding campus life as a Matie.

The fact that I am able to walk among other students creates a feeling of ‘oneness’ with the University as well as a drive to work harder as I am part of a successful programme that guarantees success. This makes SciMathUS awesome. Shakier Benjamin

  

I have to cook for myself! Last night I made spicy roast chicken with roasted veggies. This journey taught me to be independent. It made me stronger. I now do things differently. I am different, I think differently. The atmosphere of Stellenbosch is truly amazing. I now feel part of the world. I feel at home. Timothy Juries 

Ek het so baie in so ‘n kort tyd gegroei. Die ding waarvan ek baie hou van universiteit is die diversiteit, die manier hoe almal oor die weg kom en die feit dat mense jou aanvaar soos jy is. Shaun Kordom

I am here, because I want to be here. My failure was merely a stepping stone, resulting in me growing as a person. Alona van Staden

Campus life has been bliss thus far. I look forward to every day on campus, because you don't know what to expect and what might change your life. Miché Fairbairn 

A major advantage of the new environment I am exposed to is the fact that you are able to meet many intriguing people within the compound of a single university community. This helps you become more tolerant in respect to other cultures, religions, races and nationalities. Nuraan Mallie

Being a part of this programme will force me to be independent. Now I have to learn how to cook otherwise I won’t have anything to eat. At home I wasn’t allowed the luxury of budgeting my money. Now I have to be smart about the way I use money. Aviwe Hlasela

 
 

From the students: Classes and workload

In the SciMathUS course, the educators facilitate learning through a Problem-based Learning (PBL) approach. This enables students to take an active role in their learning process. It forces them to think critically and aims to create an environment wherein students can ideally develop and sustain self-directed learning skills. These new ways of teaching and thinking are definitely something new for the students and a challenge for some as it differs greatly from the way they were taught in high school.

These are some of the responses from the students in terms of their classes and workload:

The classes give me an idea of how the actual classes would look like next year and I do even get glimpses of other classes being taught – Ethan Dumas

Since I’ve been here, I have learnt to think critically and I have learnt how to solve problems in a simplified way. Everything is clear and easier now that I understand. Yolisa Manyinyi

SciMathUS aims at teaching students to think for themselves and take responsibility for their own learning. Through this, students gain responsibility for their own future. Chandré Gelant

 

Yesterday we wrote a formal physics test. I tried a different study method that I most probably couldn’t do at home, I never worked like that before. The environment is great. You can feel it is a learning environment. I wrote well because the classes are very good. The lecturers do a very good job in preparing us for next year. Timothy Juries

I find it interesting and exciting to study here because many of the educators show their passion for their work by teaching us with excitement and enthusiasm. I admire them for caring and teaching us with patience. Macklin Smith 

The experience of classes made things easier for me, because some teachers at high school gave me recipes, but now I have various methods to solve problems and I am able to interpret things better.  Luyanda Feliti

Working in groups with different people on different levels helps me to expand my knowledge more. Danielle Peters

SciMathUS helps me to better my thinking skills and the way of analysing problems. Now that I am in the programme, I notice that I have a different approach to solving problems. The problem-based learning classes are playing a huge part in my life. Silindokuhle Mafuya

Goed wat ek op skool glad nie verstaan het nie, maak vir my nou sin. Die onderwysers laat ons baie tuis voel. Respek is wedersyds. Dis lekker om met ander mense te werk. Dit verander jou perspektief. Logan McHelm

For the first time I am understanding things I never understood before and SciMathUS has been a great help to me thus far. The group work experience is a great help. The peer assessment helps us explain work to one another on a simple relatable way. Milandré Swartbooi

Since I’ve come here, I now know how to study and have met teachers who are friendly and who teach in a manner that makes you love the subject. Vusumuzi Mkhwanazi

The teaching method used in the programme is very active, which I think is very good. Lungiswa Tolobisa

Die manier waarop ons werk in die SciMathUS program verskil baie van hoe ek dit op skool gedoen het. Hier doen ons al die werk deeglik en ek verstaan die werk ook baie beter. Renata Moerat