“Experience teaches only the teachable”- Aldous Huxley
For this chapter I asked different people to share some of their experiences, what they have learnt from those experiences, as well as the advice they can give to people who have not yet experienced something similar. I chose 12 different stories that address potential challenges that you can be faced with. I tried not to edit these stories since I do not want to dilute the emotion that each story comes with. If multiple people learnt the same lesson, or give the same advice; that should tell you something.
10.1. Ramabulana Farisani Bienie
BSc Chemical Engineering student, University of the Witswatersrand.
Experience
I matriculated with seven distinctions and passed mathematics and physical science with 100%. My strategy was to study very hard like most other students. I would read my textbooks until I understood but wouldn’t question most of the things I was reading or rather think deeply of them divergently. I would then attempt to solve question papers on the subjects until I could solve almost all the questions. When I came to varsity, there was one course in particular in my first year that proved to be extremely challenging (Engineering Process I). My high school strategy was not working on this course but it worked on the other courses. After failing my very first test of the course I was scared of failing. I felt like crying but I decided to look deeply into why I failed. In life there cannot be an effect without a cause (this is causality). I asked myself why I failed this particular course while I was doing well on the other courses. I found out that the course required its own approach and if I was to pass the course I had to adjust my study methods.
Lesson learnt
I learned that each course requires its own approach and questioning each effect can help a person to establish the cause that lead to a particular effect. The course required me to think deeply and divergently, to fully understand the fundamentals or basics of the course and also to think about how what I was doing on paper compares with what is done in industry. This enabled me to better understand the simplifying assumptions that are made in the course. This was an approach that differed from the approach I used in the other courses but eventually I was able to ace the course that I had failed initially. It took some time for me to finally understand what was happening in the course but the journey was worthwhile.
Advice
Question everything and try to come up with possible solutions to the problems that you face. I also found that intentionally trying to improve your thinking skills is important when dealing with courses that require a lot of mental effort. Understand that thinking is a skill that can be developed and work on developing it. You can read books about thinking and the different approaches that one can use to become an effective thinker since there are a countless number of approaches. Understand the fundamentals of the course and be able to de ne what the course is. For example if you are doing Thermodynamics it is advisable that you are able to know what Thermodynamics is, how it developed, associated assumptions, etc, before you start applying it as this will help you better understand it!
10.2. Matshidze Khuliso
BIng Mechanical Engineering student, University of Johannesburg
Experience
My first year at university was like distance education since I say this because I hardly attended classes. As an albino I am very short sighted. I would sit in the front row wearing glasses and still barely see the lecturer’s face, let alone the slides, it was disheartening. It has been like this my whole academic life and for the first time it was affecting my marks. I do not think I was psychologically ready for the university environment. Back in high school and primary, the teachers would try their best to accommodate me. University was different, it was every man for himself. For over a year and a half I struggled until a friend introduced me to an organization called PYSCAD which caters for students with disabilities. I got counselling and they sent me to the university’s low vision clinic where I got a telescope and I started attending classes regularly.
Lesson learnt
Help doesn’t come to you, you need to go and get it. In other words you need to be self-initiative. If you need help, don’t be scared or too proud to ask for it. If I knew this back then I would have avoided so many sleepless nights.
Advice
You don’t only need to be academically ready but you also need to be psychologically ready. There are a lot of things that will test your character and your response to these challenges will determine whether you make it or not.
10.3. Vusani Neguyuni
BSc Computer Science graduate, University of Cape Town
Experience
Sometimes it is what it is. So much so that my case was quite an obvious one. I was an able student but when playfulness, laziness and procrastination knocked on my door, I chose to make new friends instead of not opening my door. This would haunt me later on in my academic journey. It is those classes and tutorials that I missed, it is the work that piled up when I was watching movies and the decision to sleep when there was so much to do that extended my three year qualification to five years.
Lesson learnt
Few words come to mind in this regard, I should have done the right thing no matter what that right was. I should have gone to 100% of each class every day, I should have studied the lesson notes every day, I should have attended each and every tutorial, I should have asked for help early when I encountered difficulties, I should have treated as many question papers as possible and I should have realized that putting that extra effort in studying was not going to hurt. Again, sometimes it is as simple as that.
Advice
Alexander Parker put it quite frankly, “Sometimes it’s just so obvious. There’s nothing going on behind closed doors that might shed a different light on things; there isn’t an `angle’ you are missing, you don’t need to second-guess yourself.” A separate article, he continued “Work hard, get things right, and if all is well with the universe you will be appropriately compensated. Such is the fundamental nature of this common sense that this is generally how things go.” Usually, it is not what we do that fails us, but rather what we don’t do. The simple act of going to class and studying on time can do so much in creating our progress. Basic success is not rocket science. Go out there, and do what’s right.
10.4. Lizeka Tandwa
Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biomedical Sciences student, University of the Witswatersrand.
Experience
Coming from a public high school that did not have a computer lab, let alone a single functional laboratory, first year was a challenge. With that background and facing courses that are notorious for promoting exclusion in the faculty was just nerve-wracking but I completed in record time, I am now doing my Honours.
Lesson learnt
Advice
10.5. Sinenhlanhla Ziqubu
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery student, University of the Witwatersrand.
Experience
I have had to repeat two years, 2nd year and 3rd year. The second time I failed I got excluded. I had to go through the re-admissions process, but I am back and I am doing my 4th year now.
Lesson learnt
Ask for help earlier on in the year. As soon as you realize that things aren’t going well for you, ask for help. There is help and tutoring available for free if you need it. Also do not be afraid to ask questions in lectures, no question is a dumb question.
Advice
Do not wait until it happens to you. Make sure you have a tutor or a mentor to help you stay on top of things.
10.6. Phillip Thabo Theletsane
BSc Chemical Engineering student, University of the Witwatersrand.
Experience
I struggled with a few things: adjusting to speaking in English all the time, being ahead with the lectures as I used to do that in High School (most times I would be behind due to me trying to understand something in depth but the lecturer would move to a different topic when I had almost caught up with him), and staying alone (because I had no one to check if I was studying or not so no encouragement). I felt like I was failing myself and everyone looking up to me, and also considered dropping out in those three months. I asked a friend of mine who was doing well to help me with one of the courses. I would come to school early in the morning with him on a Saturday so he could help me where I didn’t understand. We did that for couple of weeks and my performance improved and I passed my first year. In second year, I consulted with tutors and the lecturer and it did help a lot.
Lesson learnt
Never procrastinate; be passionate about what you are studying; apply what you study in real life; consult your lecturers and tutors all the time as to get a better understanding as sometimes we think we know something and it turns out we actually don’t. Always remember what or why you are at university.
Advice
Study with understanding, have friends who are passionate about school so they can encourage you to do your best, never fall behind.
10.7. Lerato Mothabeng
BPharm student, University of the Witwatersrand.
Experience
After repeating my first year, getting into second year was a tough year, and facing either repeating or being excluded because I was basically failing all my modules because I was too focused on two big modules, Anatomy and Physiology.
Lesson learnt
I learnt to manage my time, study smarter and to ask questions – always when you don’t understand, ask questions.
Advice
Never allow a specific module to distract you from the bigger picture which is the career you’re going to get into – instead get your thinking into such a way that you can engage what you’re learning and see how you would use it in future – it will definitely help with your attitude toward studying.
10.8. Ndou Ntsundeni
BSc Chemical Engineering student, University of the Witwatersrand
Experience
I was one of the top achievers in my Matric. Whenever I mentioned that I was doing chemical engineering people would tell me about this beast of a course called Process. It scared me. Every time I went into a process class or tut I was scared. I was scared of failing and facing the embarrassment of being that top achiever who did not make it in varsity. First test came and I failed dismally. I did not tell anyone at home because I knew they would freak out. After failing another test I realized that I had to change. The first thing that I had to do was to adjust my attitude. I had to ignore what everyone was saying and believe that I could do well in the course. I started to be positive during classes and tuts. I became more curious and willing to ask the lecturers questions. I also studied with friends so that we could help each other. I was now doing every tutorial question. I also realized that it was not about getting the answers in the tuts but understanding how to get them. I learnt not to give up when solving problems. Some questions would take a week for us to find the right answer. However, I learnt about two advantages of doing a question repeatedly even when you are not getting the answer. Firstly, you eliminate the wrong answers in your mind. You will realize that the answers you were going to give in the exams are rubbish and therefore will not give them. Secondly, you become a better problem solver. You know what works and what doesn’t. After the struggle and the massive help I received from my seniors, I was on the rise. I never failed a process test again and passed my exam with a B.
Lesson learnt
What is difficult for others may not necessarily be difficult for me. Secondly, difficult does not mean undoable.
Advice
Adjust your attitude. If someone tells you about a tough course like process, take it as an encouragement for you to work hard. Just because someone couldn’t doesn’t mean you can’t.
10.9. Mashudu Mutshaeni
BSc Chemistry with Chemical Engineering student, University of the Witwatersrand.
Experience
I matriculated from high school with only 5 distinctions. The day I came to register, the lecturer who assisted me with my registration told me that I had just made it into the course and that there were people with 7-9 distinctions who were going to study what I was studying. The first thing that came to my mind was that God is GREAT and the second was that if I had just made it into university does that mean I will just make it? I did not have much faith in my academic abilities in first semester because I had already convinced myself that I was going to fail at least one module during my first year and was already planning where I could go study the following year because Wits was just not working out for me. But through a bit of motivation and a lot of hard work I managed to get distinctions for all my first year modules with my lowest mark being 75%.
Lesson learnt
I have learnt not to doubt myself or my abilities. I have also learnt to surround myself with people who have dreams and have things that they want to achieve.
Advice
Stay positive. There will be trials along your journey but they are not there to crush you or put an end to your journey, they are just there to make you value the reward much more. Hardwork and positivity can get you very far and never think your past determines your future.
10.10. Mathagu Mulweli
MSc Chemical Engineering Candidate, University of the Witwatersrand
My story started early in Grade 10, though I did not have an idea of what to expect, I always enjoyed Mathematics and Physical Science classes more than the other classes . I guess realizing what I really liked influenced my attitude towards those subjects and it later determined my overall performance in other subjects too. My story indeed has a happy ending since I managed to get 7 distinctions in my Matric year but the start of everything was not really simple. This is how it all started…
I had failed my first quarter Mathematics and Physical Science in Grade 10 when I realized that something had to change. I felt so down and out because my friends managed to get really high marks and one even got 100% in Mathematics. I thought deep to myself trying to figure out what went wrong. Thoughts of being not too smart came to my mind and I nearly fell into the trap of believing that I am not good at Mathematics and Science as many would do.
Things changed when I decided to learn things from the basics and understanding concepts fully. Obviously, this took time and effort but I would later reap the rewards as I was top of my grade come end of that year.
After my Matric I decided to do Chemical Engineering at Wits since I enjoyed chemistry more. I guess most of my classmates really thought Chemical engineering was just chemistry, but it was not the case. Luckily, I took the same attitude of yearning to understand concepts and master the basics to university in every course I did. University felt like a new odd place where I was no longer forced to attend classes, where each and every test counted to my year mark unlike high school and where discipline was very hard to maintain. I was kept grounded by the fact that there were high expectations from my family, school and community at large.
My first year at Wits was filled with so many ups and downs. I failed and passed some tests. I felt so alone and whenever I got a call from home I had to lie since I did not want to stress the people back at home. In spite of the testing times I had to endeavour, I never lost confidence in my abilities. After each and every test failed, I never wasted time dwelling on things that I could not change but, found out what went wrong during the test and how I could improve next time. I also distanced myself from people who would install a belief of fear for different courses. I finally managed to pass all my courses at the end of my first year.
Other years came and passed with different challenges but each year I never lost motivation and continued to master the concept. Even though we are at university for that degree, education in its true sense is realized when one can effectively impact the society positively hence, I managed to develop myself holistically as an individual and I joined various leadership positions at varsity. I only did that when
I had adapted into university culture and lifestyle. Nonetheless, nothing was far more satisfying than putting an everlasting smile on my parents’ faces because 4 years later after entering into varsity I managed to finish my degree.
In my 4 years at varsity I began to see the importance of education as a tool for change. I felt that during undergraduate years one learns so little of everything so I decided to further my studies by doing masters in engineering so to know so much of one thing. As I look back into my undergraduate, things that I could change would be the fear that I had for lecturers; I always felt a lecturer is mean and rude. This made me not to consult as frequently as I should. I would also improve on my time management skills as I never did my tutorials in time or even prepare for lectures. It is also important that one finds balance between their academics and social life. I would play soccer every Friday as a way of de-stressing.
10.11. Anonymous
BSc Mining Engineering student, University of the Witwatersrand.
Experience
Regardless of where you are, there is pressure at any institution. I got to Wits feeling all hyper. I thank God for a roommate I had, who somehow used to encourage me. Just like any other institution of higher learning, you will get full year courses and semester courses, well in my first year; I had three full year courses and three semester courses. I had that mindset that I think every first year always has when they enter university “I will ace all my modules, I will never repeat a course” which of course is good if you will put more effort on your studies. There was this one course scheduled second semester in mining that I was completely lost from day 1. I would ask my friends if they understood what was taught, but no one seemed to understand the whole course. The problem really was not the course but the lecturer. These are the reasons I failed the course: I lacked self-confidence; I used to think I was not in it alone; bunked classes; never consulted; disliked the lecturer.
I am sure by the reasons stated above you would clearly understand that I was not meant to pass that course at all. And it happened, results came out at the end of the year, I had passed all my courses except that one course, lucky enough an opportunity of writing a supplementary exam presented itself, that time I failed almost everything that had to do with that course, from the first test all the way to my final exam. The sad part about it all is that amongst all my friends, I was the only one who had failed; now imagine having to go through a supplementary exam of something I never understood the whole semester all by myself. My vacation was cut short, but all was a waste, I went and wrote the supplementary exam on its day, the results came out and I had failed (I knew I wouldn’t have passed, a miracle wouldn’t have happened just like that). I registered for it again, repeated it, and then passed the following year.
Lesson learnt
You enter an institution alone; you enroll into your own choice of field. I believe each field of study is hard in its own way. You don’t need people to tell you that. Failing is one thing I least expected in life, but it happened. You just don’t have to allow yourself to let go of things you consider important. The pressure gets too heated that you somehow feel like you can’t handle it. The following needs to be noted:
Advice
The game is yours; you play it your own way. We are all given 24 hours, we choose how we want to spend it. Believe you CAN and work hard, it doesn’t come easy. All the best!
10.12. Pamela Nadia Ngwamba
BSc Civil Engineering student, University of the Witwatersrand.
Experience
My first encounter with failure was in tertiary. I have always been a top achiever and an outperformer in all that I do. I always did best. So when I failed my year, it hit me hard. It was an agonizing pain that left me under a dark cloud. I got over it. I do not have time for self-pity and sulking. I owned up to my failure, dusted myself off and carried on. Self-disappointment is worse a feeling. Feeling sorry for yourself will not help you. Do not waste time on feelings. Do what needs to be done. Keep the main goal the main goal. Problems and other obstacles are there to make you stronger. My attitude towards this experience keeps me going, and I will not stop until I get what I want. My love and passion for this career keeps me focused and enthusiastic.
Society does not reward failure. I don’t care about what people think about me. They do not matter. People’s tit-bits and gossip will not do anything for you. So long as you bring nothing positive to my life, you do not exist. You are not even worth the thought. It is all about me, and what I want. Listening to gossip and people’s negative feedback can destroy you. Do not give them that satisfaction.
I didn’t fail because I didn’t try hard enough; I failed because it was an inevitable step in order to obtain my goal. Acceptance was the hardest step, but the most vital. I later realized that I had been looking at it the wrong way. Failure is not failure until you let it get to you or you give up on your dreams/goals. Now I know what not to do. Like they always say it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, what matters is do you get up each time you fall?
I believe that God has a plan for each and every one of us. His timing is never wrong. He is on time all the time. Sometimes failure can be God slowing you down. You may be moving too fast, maybe you are moving in the wrong direction. He will never let you down, anything is possible with him. Faith will pull you through tough situations. My life has taken a detour and I must say that it is for the better.
Nobody really knows what they are doing; we are all just hustling our way through life. I failed, so what? I keep my hustle going. Make it bigger and better. Some of us may be going to the same destination, but believe you me, we are using different paths and we will get there at different times.
Lesson learnt
Advice
I am not saying that you should go to university and fail so you can obtain success. I am merely advising that you do not be afraid to act or do things because you are afraid of failing. Do not be stuck in the paradigm of failure. Do not think about it. Just do what needs to be done and do not stop until it is done. Change your attitude towards failure. You know a lot more than you think. Challenge yourself. Do not be afraid, conquer all!!
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