From the students: About adapting to the new lifestyle

Coming straight out of high school, suddenly being immersed in a new environment, culture, language and routine, is no easy task to adapt to. We have students from all over South Africa, some of them are far from home and found themselves in an entirely new set-up on the Stellenbosch campus. Here is what some of them had to say in terms of adapting:

At the beginning, SciMathUS turned life upside down. The pace of learning and class time were doubled. Being part of SciMathUS is giving me time to adjust to this all. Ethan Dumas

Ek kan nie die rigting van die wind verander nie, maar ek kan altyd my seil aanpas sodat ek my bestemming kan bereik. ‘n Nuwe omgewing, vreemde mense, ‘n hele nuwe wêreld om my. Dit het in ‘n oogwink verander. Die vreemdelinge het vinnig vriende geword en ek voel nou baie gemaklik in my nuwe omgewing en pas goed aan. Bernadette Madell

Aanpassing is altyd moeilik vir die mense, want jy moet jou ou maniere van dinge doen, verander. Die aanpassing by SciMathUS was baie groot, maar tog goed vir my. 

Ek dink dat tyd die grootste aanpassing is wanneer jy op Universiteit kom. As jy kan aanpas met die tyd is jy ‘n wenner. Dean Christians

“If you run, you stand a chance of losing, but if you don’t run, you’ve already lost.” Never give up. Sometimes courage doesn’t always roar. It is the little voice that says I’ll try again tomorrow.  Blanché Williams

 

What SciMathUS means to me

We are trying to get the students involved in the blog and to have them writing as much as possible. A while back, I had them write a page on what SciMathUS means to them and this is what a few of them had to say: 

I have seen many learners in my community becoming a success because of SciMathUS. It’s a life changing experience and I am grateful and fortunate that I am in this programme. Naquieb Prince

SciMathUS opens doors for me and allows me to not give up on my dream of attaining success through hard work and dedication. Ethan van Rooi

SciMathUS not only teaches academic skills, but also many life lessons and social/communicative skills. There’s no place I’d rather be at this moment in time. Yaseen Walls

The support structures that this programme has in place are of good quality, and therefore SciMathUS will help me grow as a person, emotionally and psychologically. William Meyer

To me SciMathUS is like a blessing from God. Kenneth Sdom

SciMathUS means to me that from now on, I see education through a different perspective. I have endless opportunities. Annelisa Mhlakaza

A blessing, an opportunity, a second chance or a privilege? There is no way I can possibly choose which one best describes what SciMathUS means to me, so I’m going to have to take ‘all of the above.’ Amy Barends

SciMathUS is a place to grow, to achieve and to be successful. Nonelela Mboto

SciMathUS, a word unknown to me a few months ago. Now it is a part of my life I’d never want to remove. Bruce Esau

Things changed, now I am able to talk to everyone, communicate etc. I love SciMathUS. Azola Thoba

I am certain that without SciMathUS my dreams would have slowly withered away. Nuraan Mallie

 

I regard SciMathUS as a blessing and I thank God every day for allowing the panel to grant me such an auspicious opportunity. Kaylin Johnson

Being at SciMathUS allows me to broaden my horizons and perspective. It is now possible for me to create a better life for myself and my family. Blanché Williams

SciMathUS is a stepping stone to a brighter future. It has given me reason to live. It gave me hope again to fulfil my dreams because it will enable me to get university qualifications. Andisiwe Batala

Aan die begin was ek baie skepties oor die program. Ek het getwyfel of dit wel die regte besluit was. Die eerste dag van SciMathUS het my van daardie denke laat verander. SciMathUS het baie anders uitgedraai as wat ek verwag het. Baie beter om die waarheid te se. As dit so aanhou sien ek net positiwiteit wat voorlê. SciMathUS 2013 gaan uitblink. Dimitri Benting

Like Bill Gates said, “Life is not fair, get used to it.” Everything depends on me and how I deal with certain things. If I keep doing things the same way, I will get the same results and that is where SciMathUS comes in, to help me do things differently and get different results but in a better way. Shane van Kerwel

SciMathUS is education turned up a few notches. Classes are more effective, especially the Problem Based learning which I find is good in class sessions for learning. Shakier Benjamin

 

Dit was vanselfsprekend die beste keuse wat ek gemaak het toe ek aansoek gedoen het vir die program. Zephaniah Pieters

I feel truly privileged. The ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ always seemed so far, and now SciMathUS is the light at the end of my tunnel.  Yumnah Adams

Ek ervaar SciMathUS as ‘n leerproses. Nie net in terme van akademie nie, maar as ‘n lewenservaring. Ek leer amper elke dag iets wat ek nie vantevore geweet het nie.  Brenten Lewis

It is as if SciMathUS is holding the door to success open just for me, waiting for me to be ready to take the next step. Aqeelah Martin

Ek is trots om deel te wees van die SciMathUS span. Lana Geldenhuys

Op skool was dinge voorspelbaar, maar nou is dit heeltemal anders. Nicole Benting 

Ten spyte van die langer klasure, die feit dat jy soms baie laat by die huis kom ens. Sal ek nie SciMathUS verruil vir enigiets anders nie. Kay-Lynne Khan

Die program is nie net ‘n oorbruggingskursus nie, maar ook ‘n program om my meer kennis te gee oor wat ‘n universiteit is, hoe dit werk en hoe jy sukses kan behaal as jy jouself goed motiveer an georganiseerd bly. Zephaniah Pieters 

It is not only a different direction to give me a different identity, but a way to strengthen and allow maturity in various parts of my life.  Sindeka Mangi

Dankie SciMathUS vir die wonderlike geleenthede wat julle my bied sodat ek as mens kan groei en beter keuses maak in hierdie lewe. Megon Balie

 

The course is beneficial to me in more than one aspect, it not only helps me to improve my marks, but also prepares me for my future studies. Danielle Peters

To me SciMathUS is the dawn of new beginnings, my key to a successful career. Curtley Walters

Met al die veranderinge besef ek ook dat ek besig is om iemand anders te word, maar iemand beter as wat ek was. Tracy-Lee Boonzaaier

I may be part of SciMathUS for only a year, but the impact it will have shall linger on… SciMathUS is my future! Abigaile Bogale

My only way of thanking the SciMathUS team is by doing well academically throughout this year which is something I am looking forward to. Mbali Khubeka

The programme has been nothing but a great way to rediscover myself, identifying my strengths and weaknesses. Sindeka Mangi

SciMathUs gee my kanse en vaardighede wat ek met albei hande moet – en sal – gryp. Carol-Ann Johannes

It means I get to dream again. It means unlimited opportunities. It means a second chance. Yolisa Manyinyi 

I think the reason why I feel so comfortable is because I feel welcome. Alona van Staden

 

SciMathUS is our hope, our honour and our chance to make things right. SciMathUS was a life raft when I was busy drowning. Raafiqah Isaacs 

SciMathUS is not the bridge, but the door with which success will greet me. Melissa McCree 

As I notice, most people think that SciMathUS is a revision of grade 12. They are totally wrong. In as far as I understand, SciMathUS is a passport or a stepping stone to victory. Luyanda Feliti

SciMathUS is lekker. Lesse is opwindend en interessant. Nou moet die jaar net nie te vinnig vlieg nie. Craig Ehrenreich

 

SciMathUS is my temporary family and support system. Dane Damonze 

SciMathUS is vir almal, net as hulle bereid is om te verander. Ek is besig om positief te verander en dit werk vir my. Tiffany Isaacs 

Die program kan net goeie vrugte by my werp, want ek streef definitief na sukses deur al die motivering en bystand en ondersteuning wat ek ontvang van hierdie program. Sherilyn Ledimo 

My droom is om ‘n verskil te maak. Dit is waarna ek streef. SciMathUS is die apparaat wat my gaan help om dit te doen. Carlynne Johnson

SciMathUs is my toegang tot die wêreld. Dit is die deur. Ek moet self die deur oopmaak. Craig Ehrenreich

SciMathUS gee hoop. Die program maak jou ‘n beter student. Ek sien dit as ‘n voorreg om deel te wees van hierdie program. Timothy Juries 

SciMathUS is die nuwe fondament waarop ek my toekoms gaan bou. Shaun Kordom

Alhoewel ek nie hierdie jaar ‘n eerstejaar is nie, sal ek definitief volgende jaar een wees met die hulp van SciMathUS. Lizaan Morrie

SciMathUS not only means a second chance at improving one’s grades at the NSC exams, but it is also about preparing one to being a well rounded person via exposing them to the sweet, exciting, yet sometimes cruel, university life. Livingstone Hendrick

SciMathUS also stands for reaching out. It develops the individual to not only better themselves, but equips one with the tools to help others and not only oneself.  SciMathUS truly has no equal. Fezo Duba

 

From a previous student: Onikwa Gogo

Although at first, I was not too sure about it, my time spent in SciMathUS has been, in every possible way, fantastic. As the days went by, I realised that this University (Stellenbosch) is where I want to be. Most people would not want to redo work from grade 10 to 12 and would let this opportunity slip by, but I encourage the SciMathUS 2013 students to hang in there and to remember why you are here. All of you were not chosen out of sympathy, but because you all have great potential to make it far, make use of this chance. Do not exploit it, because it is difficult to get opportunities like this in life. To all of the SciMathUS staff, I thank you for all you have done not only for me, but for everyone you have helped throughout the existence of the programme.

Onikwa Gogo (SciMathUS student 2012)

- Onikwa is currently a first year BComm Mathematical Science student at the University of Stellenbosch. 

A message and thank you to the SciMathUS students

I am one of those lucky few people who can honestly say that I love my job. Not because it’s part time, – which definitely is a perk – but because I get to work with students who actually want to be in the class. The students we get to work with here at SciMathUS realise that they have been given a second (and most probably – to be honest - a last) chance at a tertiary education. This realisation, however, is not the only thing driving the students here. In order to be considered for this programme, students must submit evidence that they have been in some way disadvantaged, which in this case could be financially, educationally through ill-equipped schools, or regarding their circumstances at home. These students have firsthand experience of the extreme levels of poverty in this country, for example. For most, getting a degree will be the first step to getting their families out of their struggling circumstances. 

During the selection process, my colleagues and I had to go through almost six hundred applications of hopefuls from all over the country. Our (very difficult) job was then to take all these requirements into consideration and narrow down this number  At the end of the day, we could unfortunately only send word to 125 students that  they have been accepted into the course. 

We are now in our second term at SciMathUS and still very impressed with our students. Class participation has been better than previous years and the students are working hard and taking this responsibility seriously.

I continue to love my job. I am the facilitator in charge of language skills and academic literacy in general. This is not why the students are here, which can sometimes prove to be difficult. Since students believe they are here to primarily improve their science and mathematics marks, the language component is often overlooked and most definitely underestimated. My challenge is to get students excited about language and to also emphasise the importance of proper professional language skills. Even given the fact that language and writing improvement isn’t the first thing on their priority list academically speaking, I find that the students participate, learn and, more importantly again, want to be here. 

Every day my students inspire me. This sounds corny, but give me a chance. I truly feel humbled and frankly a little bit embarrassed when I think of myself at their age. When I was a first year, my priorities were probably the opposite of that of my students. I feel guilty, ashamed even, when I look at how hard they work, how much they put into their work and how proud they are of their effort, in comparison to the way I handled academics – and life, for that matter – when I was their age. I have luckily now matured and have come to appreciate the more important things in life (even if it took a few years and I’m still getting there). I am also continuing my studies at the moment, and whenever I feel close to self-pity because of workload or circumstances, the idea of my SciMathUS students inspire me to keep working, to keep on looking forward, to keep on keeping on. What I’m trying to say is that I wish I could be more like them.

Thank you, SciMathUS students. May you carry on inspiring more people.

JT.

Welcome to Worcester!

A brand-new Stellenbosch University satellite campus, a re-vamped student house, and 20 positively charged students –that’s what has hit Worcester in 2013.  Contrary to the expectations of some of the new SciMathUS students, Worcester is not a dusty hamlet somewhere between Stellenbosch and nowhere.  It is a beautiful town, surrounded by the majestic Boland mountains, and now home to the 20 SciMathUS students who will complete their bridging year here.  Away from the many social distractions on the main campus, these students can go all out to achieve the goals they have set for themselves.  Three dedicated facilitators will accompany them on their journey to success.

The Worcester Campus is part of the Ukwanda Rural Clinical School, which kindly agreed to accommodate one group of the 2013 SciMathUS project in Worcester.  Since most of the Worcester SciMathUS students plan to enter a career in one of the medical professions, this is an opportunity for them to get a feel for the environment they are likely to experience, should they enter the medical profession.  The new campus boasts all the latest technology, and students are housed in a beautifully restored house.  

SciMathUS students come from all over the country.  There is Lungi from St Lucia in KZN, Kim from Douglas in the Northern Cape, and Thapelo from Bulls heartland, Pretoria.  After one week in Worcester it seems as if they are ready to make the most of their new “home.”  Now it is up to them to give it their best shot.  Judging from the manner in which they have embraced their new surroundings, they seem set for success.

- Tersia du Plessis

Tersia teaches Language and thinking skills, Language proficiency as well as Computer Science at the Worcester campus of SciMathUS

Meet some of our students from the Worcester campus: