Velisiwe Sithole, a nineteen year old black woman, strikes people around her as being strong willed and composed. She seems calm and collected, but, instead, she admits to have been rattled and confused by her first year at Rhodes. This is a combination of living far away from her home in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and also from caving to the pressures of academic life at Rhodes. Therefore, the self-confidence that she possesses is not only one of her most endearing characteristics, but also one that she uses as a defense mechanism against her own worries.
Velisiwe chose Rhodes University because she felt that “there are more opportunities here [South Africa] than in Zimbabwe” and she always knew that she wanted to study outside of her own country. For most foreign students, independence would have to have been learned fast if they wanted to cope with the demands of working towards a university degree, but for Velisiwe, things have been a little different. Her deep brown eyes stare distantly away as she describes how she is used to being apart from her family as she lives with a helper in Zimbabwe. “I only see my mom about two times a year because she doesn’t even live in Zimbabwe with me.” Her mother currently resides in England. This has clearly had an emotional affect on Velisiwe and has aided her in becoming the self-sufficient first year that she is today. “I’ve been changed, but it is not a change for the worse” Velisiwe says.
Velisiwe was quick to acknowledge that the one thing that she wished she had learned earlier, or before she had come to Rhodes University, is how to pick herself up when she is feeling down. Similar to many first years, she has days when it seems far better to just lock herself in a room with the lights off and forget. Pressure from work and social life take its toll and it is often very hard for first years to find the balance. Velisiwe bravely admits that she would rather be upset in her room than let anyone know that she is feeling down and says that “sometimes it takes something as small as your slop breaking on a rainy day to bring you down because everything else has been building up for so long”.
Even so, Velisiwe has overcome some of these problems and found great joy this year from being part of Rhodes Music Radio (RMR). Her eyes seem to light up a she talks about RMR and she excitedly begins to talk faster. She is confident on air and has proven to be a popular DJ, news reader and reporter with shows like “Sound Bite” that works on often. “This was one thing that I really wanted. Even before I came to Rhodes I had heard about it and it sounded so awesome” says Velisiwe.
On the topic of work, Velisiwe smiles a wide and welcoming smile and gives a light giggle- “I live in the world of procrastination”, but Velisiwe’s idea of procrastination and actual procrastination are two very different things. A friend of hers, Joanna Pickering, stated that Velisiwe always has her work done on time and is thinking off assignments long before Joanna herself does. Perhaps it the fact that her A levels have prepared her sufficiently for the work that she has to undertake here at Rhodes University.
Rhodes University students notably have a reputation for partying, but for Velisiwe this has never been a big issue. She states that she has never felt the pressure to go out as often as some of the other students and says “I think I would die if I had to go out three nights in a row. I don’t know how they do it”. Even so, Velisiwe has been spotted partying at Rat in true Rhodent fashion every now and then. She just believes that everything has to be done in moderation.
Therefore, it can clearly be seen that Velisiwe, no matter how composed and confident she portrays herself is also victim to some of the hardships of first year life. Work and distance from family have all played a role in making her the person that she is today; the person who lives by the saying “never let fear stop you from dancing on the moon”.
Velisiwe chose Rhodes University because she felt that “there are more opportunities here [South Africa] than in Zimbabwe” and she always knew that she wanted to study outside of her own country. For most foreign students, independence would have to have been learned fast if they wanted to cope with the demands of working towards a university degree, but for Velisiwe, things have been a little different. Her deep brown eyes stare distantly away as she describes how she is used to being apart from her family as she lives with a helper in Zimbabwe. “I only see my mom about two times a year because she doesn’t even live in Zimbabwe with me.” Her mother currently resides in England. This has clearly had an emotional affect on Velisiwe and has aided her in becoming the self-sufficient first year that she is today. “I’ve been changed, but it is not a change for the worse” Velisiwe says.
Velisiwe was quick to acknowledge that the one thing that she wished she had learned earlier, or before she had come to Rhodes University, is how to pick herself up when she is feeling down. Similar to many first years, she has days when it seems far better to just lock herself in a room with the lights off and forget. Pressure from work and social life take its toll and it is often very hard for first years to find the balance. Velisiwe bravely admits that she would rather be upset in her room than let anyone know that she is feeling down and says that “sometimes it takes something as small as your slop breaking on a rainy day to bring you down because everything else has been building up for so long”.
Even so, Velisiwe has overcome some of these problems and found great joy this year from being part of Rhodes Music Radio (RMR). Her eyes seem to light up a she talks about RMR and she excitedly begins to talk faster. She is confident on air and has proven to be a popular DJ, news reader and reporter with shows like “Sound Bite” that works on often. “This was one thing that I really wanted. Even before I came to Rhodes I had heard about it and it sounded so awesome” says Velisiwe.
On the topic of work, Velisiwe smiles a wide and welcoming smile and gives a light giggle- “I live in the world of procrastination”, but Velisiwe’s idea of procrastination and actual procrastination are two very different things. A friend of hers, Joanna Pickering, stated that Velisiwe always has her work done on time and is thinking off assignments long before Joanna herself does. Perhaps it the fact that her A levels have prepared her sufficiently for the work that she has to undertake here at Rhodes University.
Rhodes University students notably have a reputation for partying, but for Velisiwe this has never been a big issue. She states that she has never felt the pressure to go out as often as some of the other students and says “I think I would die if I had to go out three nights in a row. I don’t know how they do it”. Even so, Velisiwe has been spotted partying at Rat in true Rhodent fashion every now and then. She just believes that everything has to be done in moderation.
Therefore, it can clearly be seen that Velisiwe, no matter how composed and confident she portrays herself is also victim to some of the hardships of first year life. Work and distance from family have all played a role in making her the person that she is today; the person who lives by the saying “never let fear stop you from dancing on the moon”.
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