Aerodynamics 101

This has nothing to do with aerodynamics, but it has everything to do with aerobics.  They both involve the motion of air.  The former studies the interaction of air with a solid object (according to Wikipedia) and the latter happens to be an airbending attack on your lungs.  Besides, "Aerodynamics" sounded way cooler than "Aerobics".

Aerobics hardly seems like a competitive sport, but there are people (professionals) who have mastered the art of heavy breathing while defying the laws of gravity.  As for the remaining majority, we are still trying to cope with basics like rhythm, balance and of course, breathing.

There comes a time in every woman's life when she has the untamable desire to shed excess body fat (when is fat never in excess?).  That day threatened to make an appearance in my life.  I would have ignored it, if it was not for peer pressure and healthy-living propaganda constantly bombarding me from the media.  I was defenceless. I had no choice. And I needed a reason to wear the Nikes screaming at me from the display window.  Defeated, it was too late to save my dignity, so I surrendered.

I stepped into a world filled with fluorescent colours, 80s music and high-tech water bottles.  It was acceptable to sing along with Wham! while running an extra minute and Madonna became the motivation to do one more lunge.  The mirrors in the studio made me feel like I was living in a British dance movie from the early millennium (I really mean Billy Elliot). 

Eventually I got caught in the fun (endorphins, they should be packaged and sold).  Losing weight became secondary.  At this stage, I had already met new people, because the friend who dragged me to gym in the first place, quit after two weeks.  The only reason I stayed was because I spent too much money on gym membership (and to avoid the inconvenience of confrontation).    

When people asked why I was sticking to it, I gave them the generic "health benefits" answer.  When they enquired about health benefits, I told them it reduced one's chances of getting Diabetes or Cancer (that may not even be true).  But beyond the money or the new friends, it was the perfect opportunity to steal "Me Time" (I was serious about those endorphins).  I could be unashamedly feminine, while dressed like a hobo in an oversized shirt. 

Every enjoyable thing has its limitations or difficulties.  Perspiration for example, no one ends a class looking like the women in those Shield advertisements.  There is also the "Bitch, you stole my mat!" scenario.  Everyone knows that the mats at the gym need to be reserved if one wants to use them.  But someone's mat will always get knicked.  Moral of the story, get your own mat, because it is unhygienic to share gym mats anyway.  Also, it is not like being part of a sports team, so you miss that camaraderie developed in a team.  Everyone has their own goals and you need to have strong self-discipline to achieve your own.

Sure, your lungs take a beating (but that is just for the first few weeks) and you look like you have been running in the rain when it is over (you do not smell like it though).  But the endorphins... the endorphins make you feel like you are walking on air. 

 

   
     






 

Driving Lessons

Today I failed my driving licence test for the fifth time.  That means, over five years, three driving instructors and two expired learner's licences, I accomplished the unspeakable task of being a professional failure.  Seriously, I should frame these failed test papers and hang them in my bathroom so that I will always remember that the crappiest time in my life was not in a bathroom.  Also, it will give my guests something to chuckle about while they deal with the tragedy of my poor cooking.

I wish I had a Rupert Grint coming-of-age moment, like he did in that movie Driving Lessons. Only, I do not have a Julie Walters figure to take me on a road trip and I am not seventeen and a half, so that moment should have happened already.  The good news is I do not feel entirely defeated.  Contrarily, I feel invincible, mostly because I did not succumb to the corruption condoned by South Africans.

Most drivers buy their licences, heck, my friends bought their licences.  And even though it is embarrassing to be an immobile twenty two year old, I still have my self-respect.  I realized, it is better to feel crappy about failing because that only lasts for ten minutes, but it is worse to feel crappy about passing for the wrong reasons, because that lasts forever.  (Knowing the person I am, guilt like that would eat away at me and destroy the quality of my life every time I use a vehicle).  

I do not want to sound like an embittered person passing judgment on the people who bought their driving licences, but those people have to know that their actions make it harder for other people to get their licences without buying them.  It is disgusting how acceptable it has become to bribe an examiner, and the only reason they keep accepting bribes is because citizens keep offering them bribes.  If everyone stopped offering bribes, soon enough examiners will stop expecting them.  The problem is not the system; it is the people running the system.  Citizens need to grow some moral backbone, you are not a criminal; you choose to be one. Citizens need to do the right thing, if that means you have to take a test nine times; then do it; because at least you are standing for something you believe in.

That is how I felt today; I declared my personal war against corruption.  I reasoned that I cannot point fingers at the President, if I myself engage in corruption.  Of course failing is terrible, you feel miserable and booking appointments is taxing on your wallet, but at least be a citizen that adds value to society instead of being one who takes value away from society.

After a while, you laugh about these things.  I joke about how I am practically part of my driving instructor's family, or how the cashiers at the traffic department all know my name because I am there so often.  I should get free family photos from the photographer because I have paid him so many times to take my picture.  

When I finally do get my driving licence, I will be able to talk about it freely, and glorify God in it, because God is righteous and things like bribery do not glorify God.  

Citizens who did not buy their driving licences are awesome human beings.  Citizens who do the right thing are the good men and women who prevent evil from triumphing.  Their actions are valuable and their victories are true.   They make this country better.  They are invincible.

God is Good

I wish I could write this post without feeling pressured by the intensity of the message I am about to communicate.  I do not want to take away anything from the truth, nor do I want to spoil it with my humanness.  God is good.  God is good.  God is good.  People may be bad, but God is always good.


Romans 8:28 And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.(NIV)


I did not want to start off 2014 with a preach, but I hope this will be received as a conversation packed with encouragement, to reignite the flame that burned so vivaciously in your heart.  God is good, and I know that has been drilled into us since we started school. However it is easy to forget these clever one liners, especially after 20+ years of learning by burning.  That huge mountain you are trying to climb, and that storm you are trying to rise above with all your might, are there to build into your character and make you a better person because truthfully, the mountain and the storm you will encounter next will be greater and nastier. 


If you do not believe me, then Google Joseph (the one with the 11 brothers and a troublesome coat).  Joseph was favoured by his father (bad move on the father's part) which incited jealousy in his brothers.  Joseph's brothers were so enraged (pissed off) they threw him down a well and told their dad he was mauled by a pack of wolves (this is probably how the phrase "you're dead to me" originated).  Although, his brothers did not abandon him entirely, they sold him to desert slave traders and he eventually became the servant of an Egyptian, Potiphar (I know, it is like Ben-Hur, only without chariot races and leprosy).   


God's hand was upon Joseph's life, and although his brothers made poor decisions and caused him pain, God's perfect will prevailed.  Joseph prospered in his work and was favoured by Potiphar, who trusted him with an authoritative role in his household.  But people are bad, vile even.  Potiphar's unfaithful wife (yes, the first desperate housewife recorded in history) made advances towards Joseph, and despite him doing the right thing and rejecting her, he lost his standing in Potiphar's household and became a prisoner (ever heard of the fury of a woman scorned?). 


Do you see how the mountains became steeper and how the storms became less forgiving?  People are bad, but God is good.  In prison, Joseph had a chance to tap into the gifts with which God had blessed him.  He could interpret dreams and this set him apart and bought him his freedom (it is like Prison Break, but no one has to die or be molested by a guy called T-Bag).  His wisdom meant he would become an adviser to Pharaoh (not quite the CEO, but the COO).


Upon meeting with his brothers years later, Joseph himself said You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20 NIV)  (Because at this stage, Joseph saved a nation from starvation Cc the United Nations, take a note from Joseph for that world hunger problem). 


Those trials are exactly for that purpose, to equip you to solve greater problems that you will face in the future and to fulfil your destiny, with the knowledge you acquired by slaying those dragons.  And even though those fire-breathers are merciless, the one who fans the flame in your heart is the author and finisher of our faith and He reigns despite the things man will do, the challenges of the circumstances you face or the restrictions of time.  Because the consequences of whatever is happening, are greater than you realise.   


And in the end, when you reflect on your journey, you will see, He was good all the time. (Exactly like Ben-Hur). 








 

Confessions of a Vegetarian

It is that time of the year where we reflect on the wonderful 2013, but clearly not wonderful enough because we cannot wait to usher in 2014.  Well, 2013 was an eventful year.  I made some serious choices and accomplished some not so serious things.  One of the best decisions I made this year was to become a vegetarian.  It has hardly been a thrilling ride but there are a few things about it that are worth sharing.  This is by no means a gimmick to convert anyone's meat eating habits- and I mean that in a respectful, non-condescending way.

This is my journey in ten, fairly decent, points.

1.  You fart (all the time).

And you cannot control it.  This may sound crude, but this is something important most vegetarians neglect to inform potential vegetarian converts.  Sure, you can train yourself to delay a fart, but it is bound to make a heroic escape.  It also smells like you are growing a garden laced with compost inside of you.  Forget about spooning with someone special, that bed is too warm for the both of you. 

2.  Everyone automatically assumes "vegetarian" means "cheese-dish".

I am so tired of eating food oozing with cheese (sure, it sounds tasty but after the third dish, you get over it).  Currently, I am off dairy which means I am about half way to becoming Vegan.  There are so many vegetarian dishes that can be made without cheese, or cream or pasta!  Curries are pretty good and do not hold back on the spice.

3.  Food choices are limited.

There are hardly any options available for vegetarians to choose from on most restaurant menus (and all of them contain cheese).  Basically, your choice is already made.  Before you walk through the door you know you are eating the only vegetarian option available.  Also, you run out of food ideas really quickly (which reminds me, I need to get that vegetarian recipe book really soon).

4.  Hanging out with people becomes complicated.

Mostly because social activities involve, eating meat.  Cut out braais, unless you are keen on eating a lot of potato salad and garlic bread.  If there are not any salads, you will be eating nothing.  So it is like you are the girl in high school with an eating disorder- all over again. 

5.  People do not know the difference between Vegetarianism and Pescetarianism.

A pescetarian's diet includes fish, but no other meat.  People often believe vegetarianism and pescetarianism is the same thing.

Exhibit A:
Girl- Are you vegetarian?
Me- Yes, I am.
Girl- Oh, are you the kind who eats fish?
Me- No, that's a pescetarian.  I am a vegetarian, we eat absolutely no meat.
(Even after that, I still do not think she knew the difference).

6.  There will always be a better Vegetarian.

I met this girl who did not eat jelly sweets because they contained gelatine.  Well, she did not put it that way; she used words like "cow hoof" and "pig snout".  I did not think being a vegetarian was a competition; if that is the case then I am probably losing.  Also, I do not eat jelly sweets because of a documentary I watched on BBC.  That decision may not be Vegetarian-motivated, but I think it should still count.

7.  People always want to know why.

You always have to explain why you made such an abnormal decision.  People always ask you in that scornful tone, like, "Oh, she thinks she is better than us just because she does not eat meat."  My
one friend asked me if it was because I loved animals.  I was careful with this one because she was ready to protest that she loved animals too.  Sometimes I feel like wearing a sign that says, "Hey, I am a vegetarian and I do not think I owe anyone an explanation, I just tried it and it worked."  Is
that a good reason?  Probably not.  It is like falling in love, you cannot explain why, it just feels right...  No actually, that metaphor does not sit well with me; but you get the idea.

8.  It has its perks.

I lost enough weight to drop a jeans size.  Unfortunately I have not had the chance to buy a new pair of jeans, so the ones I have are always hanging, making me look like a guy from the 90's.  Also, my egg frying abilities have improved so I could get a job at a B&B.

9.  It reduces your already reduced dating pool.

You probably could date a meat eater and live through it, but when you are in your twenties the dynamics of dating change slightly.  These days' people date with the intention of marriage, and if he eats meat, you are probably going to have to learn how to cook meat.  Dating a vegetarian is just simpler; you do not have to worry about shoving your hands inside a chicken to pull out giblets.  Unfortunately, finding a dateable vegetarian is like finding a needle in a haystack, because we are that rare.

10.  You never know when or if you should announce it.

Is your vegetarianism even worthy of an announcement?  Yes, it is a lifestyle change, but what if the jackets inside the closet are really comfortable and you do not want to share them with other people because they just would not understand the comfort derived from those jackets?  You know- people  judge you for liking some jackets more than others!  But, even though the jackets are
comfortable, that closet can become really stuffy. 

I mean, it is not the kind of announcement people are expecting to hear.  It is not like you got engaged.  You have to tell people when you are engaged, it is like a rule that you have to let them  know you are officially off the market.  Being a vegetarian is different, you can easily get away with it, alone in the corner... unless something comes up where you have to say, "Whoa! Stop the bus! I cannot carve that turkey because..." or, "No thanks, I cannot eat your meat pie because..."

Also, you do not want to wait too late when they are serving the meat platter, but you do not want to be a douche and announce it every time you walk into a room, like a picky eater.  An interesting development by Facebook, which may make it easier for you to "come out" is the recently added "became a vegetarian" life event, alongside "got a new job", "graduated" or "in a relationship". 
I considered ticking the box, but thought, would people really care?  Then there was a whole debate that followed in my head about how people would care when you reject their food.

So to spare any embarrassing situations that may come from failing to inform people about my vegetarianism (believe me, this is quite possible), this is my official, unofficial "coming out" announcement of a lifestyle change that you may or may not care about. 

Also, in the spirit of treating others the way you want to be treated, you should all know that I do not judge any meat eaters or anyone's nutritional choices.  In fact, I do not care, unless you are morbidly obese and one foot in the grave, then I care.  Indeed, we should all be concerned about you and we might just hold an intervention because that closet is about to burst open. 

Finally-  here is to a splendid year of blogging about the "other" things which are less important to you but more important to me, like vegetarianism.  Thank you for sharing the posts and for subscribing.  Have a blessed 2014 and remember to always eat your vegetables.  Peace :)

Dormant

When I was planning on writing this post, it was completely different to that which is about to unfold in the next few minutes.  John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."  Today I heard the most devastating news that my friend had passed away and all I want to do right now, is be dormant while life happens and reality bares its snarling teeth. 

James 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (NIV)

I have heard about some of my dad's old college friends who have passed away, but I never thought that my dad and I would have something like this in common, this soon after leaving university.  When my gran died, my feelings were much different. I was expecting it because she had been sick for months.  But when someone my age, who has plans of accomplishing great things in her career and personal life, is taken away without warning, it hurts more because you did not expect it and neither did she.  Her texts are still raw on our phones, and her social network accounts still have the record of her most recent movements.  The worst part is that the last time I said goodbye to her, I did not think it would actually be the last time I said goodbye.

I cannot find the balance between murderers and rapists who get to live and people like my friend, who was a good person and who was going to add value to society and contribute to the nation's economy, who brought honour to her family and who would have paved the way for women in her field, whose life ended so abruptly.  I know God has reasons for allowing bad things to happen.  And I hold onto the belief that God is good.  God is good no matter what happens.  Death is shameless, but God is still good. 

What can I say that does not do injustice to the memory of my friend?  She was the funniest girl I knew, really, I had never met anyone as witty and as spontaneous as her.  I met her in first year, during orientation week of our residence.  We had a friend in common, who brought us together and some of my best res-girl memories involve those two girls.  They would tell stories that would make you feel like you were there when it happened.  There was always non-stop laughter and random air-claps that only we could understand.  I would get angry at them every time they echoed my squeaky voice and I use to love listening to them reminisce about their Hot Mikado days (a school production in which they participated) and every time they sang for me. 

For my 21st birthday, they gave me a book about Afghan women and a biography about Margaret Thatcher- a perfect gift for a feminist.  We made plans to be bridesmaids for each other and now, those plans no longer exist.  Now no one will call me Lamdizzle, and even if someone would call me Lamdizzle, it just would not be the same.  My friend made it sound cool, now it just sounds ridiculous.  I will miss these small things, but what I will miss the most, is the thought that I would never have to miss these small things.

I remember earlier this year she told me that she had heard me visiting our other friend who lived next door to her and that she had heard us laughing.  I cringed at the thought of what she might have heard (us trying to master the moonwalk or my Gospel education).  She said that I hardly visit her and that I should come see her soon.  Well, I regret that I did not pay her enough visits this year; I regret that I mistakenly thought there would always be time to see her and I regret that I do not have a good reason for why I did not visit her often.  But mostly, I regret that I have these regrets.          

She has left a gap in countless lives; many of us knew her and loved her for the same reasons.  Everyone who knew her was blessed to know someone like her; she could put a smile on your face which was not there before.  The memories we have of her will become dormant, and one day something will happen and those memories will be reawakened for a few more minutes.  And then life will happen, plans will be made and reality will strike us mercilessly.  But there will be those rare moments where something will happen to reawaken those dormant memories once more. 

My Best Friend's Wedding

My mother always says romance and candle-lit dinners do not sustain a marriage; being humble enough to say sorry when you believe you are right does.  I have always been cynical about love and marriage and always reserved my opinions on such matters.  Witnessing my best friend get married really challenged my perceptions of relationships and what they represent.  Watching her vow to live the rest of her life selflessly and surrendering her heart completely illuminated the mystery of love I had been working so tirelessly to avoid for most of my life. 

In high school I thought everyone who claimed to be in love was an absolute idiot and foolish for making such hefty declarations that soon after puberty.  I remember thinking, good luck with that Gonorrhea problem you will have to deal with soon.  In one “Life Orientation” class I was one of the three people who did not want to be married one day.  My reason was that I did not want to spend the rest of my life submitting to a man.  My teacher cleverly responded by saying that if I could not submit to a spouse, how would I ever submit to the government or authority figures? 

Well, that did not sway my opinion, because I hate the government and the fifteen year old me had some vile thoughts about overthrowing it in the future.  Also, this is the same government that has a department for women, children and the disabled- when did being a woman be equivalent to having a disability? So truthfully my antagonism towards marriage was just the rising feminist in me trying to find an outlet (perhaps the wrong outlet, but I have had these aspirations fixed in the right direction since then).  Nevertheless, Paul had written some insightful things about singleness in the bible, and I was really exploiting those verses to my advantage.      

I have not always opposed marriage.  I remember throwing a pillowcase over my head and pretending to be a bride when I was hardly five years old.  My friends and I would talk about our weddings for hours.  How many bridesmaids we wanted, the colour scheme, the tiered cake, the song for the first dance, the bouquet, the style of the dress, the centrepieces, the draping, the venue, the hair and the nails, and the GROOM!  Together, we would dream about the ideal man we wished to marry one day.  His looks, his occupation, his hobbies, his bank account, how he would ask you to be his wife.  Fast forward to our twenties and it became his faith, his character, his values, his intellect, how he made you feel, how he would encourage you to achieve your dreams.    

There was the Edward Cullen phase we encountered in our late teens.  He ruined us for all men.  Twilight and every other wedding movie scarred us for life.  Every last one of them fabricated this perfect idea of love.  I regret subjecting myself to Julia Roberts’ flawless beauty, every Bollywood movie I ever watched (that is three hours of singing and dancing for each movie, too many) and Ryan Reynolds’ good heart hidden within a body that looks like it was sculpted by Michelangelo.  When I saw my best friend, behind her veil, with her dad on her side, every romantic comedy just paled in comparison to the reality before my very eyes.  Here is a girl, who is about to walk towards the rest of her life.  She does not know what lies before her, but she trusts the guy waiting on the other side enough to make a commitment that binds them together for the rest of their lives. 

I choose to believe in love stories like that, mostly because they are not love stories, they are love realities.  A love reality where the guy, who is scared out of his mind, but dies for his bride anyway because his love is unconditional… oh wait, that was Jesus Christ, and that happened once for all time.  My best friend did me one last favour as a single woman when she chose to have the Gospel shared at her wedding ceremony.   I realised something that I had previously been goaded into believing for years, only this time it was a revelation I finally knew to be true- marriage is a God thing.  It represents everything Jesus did for us when He died to save us. 

Ephesians 5:31-32 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.  This is a profound mystery- but I am talking about Christ and the Church. (NIV)

If the love of God is not written all over marriage, then it is no better than some empty Hollywood movie with wooden actors.  Human love is fickle, it changes like the weather, it is flawed and someone’s heart is bound to get broken.  But God’s love, God’s love supersedes human nature; it is eternal, it is unconditional and holds people together.  That is the love reality we should desire for our lives.   

Thank you K, now I understand. J    

Witsie Forever

There are three kinds of students at Wits; the scientists, the politicians and the averages.  After Wits, the scientists, given their extreme journey of acclimatization into society, become less delusional, more socially functional and possibly find religion, or develop a relationship with a person who exists in reality.  The politicians find their political voice, continue to be recipients of a myriad of bursaries and opportunities reserved for the previously disadvantaged and hopefully will lead the country with the wisdom they gained from their practice sessions at this wonderful institution.  The averages become what the scientists once were, only more delusional; they dabble in bouts of erratic substance abuse, lose religion or start blogs- much like this one. They take their extra-mural activities more seriously as opposed to the degrees they are completing, and will hopefully contribute to the success of the economy by hopping onto that hamster wheel, commonly known as the workforce.

There are the exceptions, which remain consistent in their behavior but may delve deeper into who they are and realize that success is directly proportional to loving what you do.  But those are the exceptions; I do not know any of those people, because they are exceptionally rare.  The point is- once you leave Wits, you are much different to who you were when you arrived at Wits.  Which is expected; a lot can happen in 3+ years, a lot of traumatic things that can change a person.

Wits changes the things you value in life.  When my classmates and I finished our theses, we all took pictures of our massive files of research and loaded them onto Facebook.  Normal people do not do things like that.  Normal people do not weigh out the costs of watching a soccer game and reading articles for class.  Normal people do not spend weekends in libraries.  Normal people do not schedule time slots to wash their hair.  It is bad enough being a nerd, realizing it is worse, but out-nerding yourself is just tragic.  It happens to the best of us- it happens to Witsies.

My fondest memories are the ones from res.  When you live with strangers, it does not take too long for you to realize that murdering people because they are too loud is not justifiable, and earplugs are more ideal than prison.  But there are those situations, you did not see coming and before you know it, you have done something you will regret later.  For instance this one time, a drunk girl passed out on my bed.  The situation is this- I thought she had been attacked, so I let her into my room to wait while I got help.  As it turns out, drunk people do not look much different to people who were actually attacked, or maybe I just had not seen a drunk person that close before.

Then there are the "curiosity killed the cat" situations from which I never learn.  Long story short, my friend forced me to watch a video of a woman giving birth- changed my life.  I screamed louder than the woman in the video.  It did not help that my friend paused the video every time I looked away. No one, besides a medical doctor, should ever see that. 

There are the priceless moments, you only live through once.  Sometimes you are blessed and get to experience it twice, like the time(s) we got to watch the All Blacks practice in our yard (The rugby field outside our res, which we can look onto from our bedroom windows, is our yard).  I was lucky to catch them doing the Hakka- they were so intimidating, I almost fell over.  And all the times we were serenaded by an army of men- how many women get to say that?  At res, everyday is a slumber party.  You live with your friends and you stay up late having endless conversations, impromptu karaoke nights and 5 minute study breaks on the fire escape while basking in the presence of the Jozi skyline.  You are never lonely and you are always lucky to watch a game (soccer, cricket and rugby), Sunday movie nights, Idols and soapies (Generations) with an audience. 

As for the brilliant people I met along the way- philosophers, doctors (and dentists) mathematicians, actuaries, architects, accountants, lawyers, economists, engineers (chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical), actors, writers, marketers, artists, biologists, biochemists, pharmacists, scientists (all of them- the ones I mentioned and the ones I forgot to mention), bankers, risk managers, singers, designers, librarians, foreigners, Hindus, Jews, Hinjews, Cancerians, gamers, nerds, poets, elderly people, leaders, followers- those are phenomenal people, all with incredible dreams, radical beliefs and hopes for the future. They painted the most beautiful picture of South Africa I had ever seen.  I was grateful for the friendships that developed with some of these people and I am thrilled to share the company of these fascinating people for the rest of my life. 

Speaking of friends- I remember the day I was dubbed an athlete.  The task of stealing a New Zealand flag hanging on someone’s car was set before me.  It was the year of the rugby world cup, and the challenge was proposed by two friends who agreed that the presence of the flag was unpatriotic.  I was about to pull the flag off and just in time, my friends said, "Ok! Woah woah woah!  It’s fine you’re an athlete you don’t have to do it." You see, I did not get the flag but I was an athlete by virtue of being willing to do the task.    

Us Witsies are often mistaken for being arrogant.  But if you had to measure all the times we faced a near-failure experience and the thousands spent on our "superior" education, coupled with all the times we should have shit ourselves but did not because we were holding onto whatever dignity we had left by a tether; then it is easier to understand the boldness that comes with conquering the edge.  I remember the time I faced my economics marks on the notice board.  I bore no significant emotions and ever since then I have been indifferent about marks.  The lesson is, once you hit rock bottom, you realize that it is just not worth it getting worked up over things of which you have no control.  Also, one can only fall asleep in economics so many times before you realize such greatness has not been thrust upon you.  Besides, when you arrive at Wits, lecturers tell you, "What kind of institution would this be if we had to hand out degrees on silver platters?" Or, "If you are here to get a job, then you are here for the wrong reasons.  You might as well leave and get a job now, because this is a research institution.  We equip students to do ground breaking things, not to find jobs." 

That sums it all up actually.  Imagine you have a five year plan which you strongly believed in and chose to conform to with everything in your power, and then imagine you stumble onto a piece of information that reveals the reality of that plan.  That is Wits- it pulls the rug out from underneath that plan and unearths parts of you, you did not know existed.  You can no longer  adhere to that five year plan, because that would be foolish.  You have to be greater.  You have to be bolder.  And the only direction you can see yourself moving from this point, is upwards.  Towards glory.  You cannot settle for anything less.

The scientists, the politicians and the averages have all learnt the hard way that being exceptional, is exceptional; but possible.  Until then- Challenge Accepted.  I am grateful for my years at Wits and there is just not enough time to write up all the details of my experience, but I carry these memories in my heart.  You have to have your own experience to truly understand the value of being a Witsie, and I was privileged to have that opportunity. 

#RespectTheEdge