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