Weekday distractions: Part 1

Going out is a normal part of most first year’s experience at University. My going out experiences started somewhat slower than the rest of the other first years though. I had a lot of fun in O-week, but never totally let go and once lectures etc started I made sure that I only went out on weekend nights and not during the week. I can’t say that I wasn’t envious of all the girls in my res who would make an effort to dress up for Wednesday night theme parties at the Union while I conscientiously stayed in to work. The corridors on Wednesday evenings were always filled with laughter and the mad running around of girls looking for crazy outfits to wear. I would have loved to have joined them but a combination of shyness and not knowing how to approach them and wanting to take my work seriously meant that I never did. The first semester turned out to be a hellish one for me, but by the second semester I felt more settled, happier and the third term became my O-week. I started going out every weekend and at least one night a week if not more. I have since met many fantastic people and my group of friends has grown! We are right in the middle of fourth term, yet I still find myself tempted to go out during the week whether I have work to do or not. And for some reason Tuesday nights are the most tempting. No, not because of the R10 draughts served at The Rat on Tuesdays, but purely by coincidence. Take last Tuesday night for example: After getting back from the film festival, a friend came to visit and eventually I got dragged off to chill at a digs VIA the Old Gaol. Now, I don’t regret this at all, but I suffered from a lack of sleep the next day and a bit more work to do than necessary. The previous Tuesday was meant to be a quiet ice-cream at Steers, which turned into quiet R10 draughts at the Rat. The Tuesday before that was Cow Moon Theory, The Rat, The Old Gaol... etc etc etc. I have decided to give up fighting weekday distractions as they are not necessarily a bad thing. So long as I still manage to strike a balance between work and play without getting overly distracted, I should be fine...

A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss

At the age of 19, Amy Moss, a Hobson House resident, has managed to find a balance between work and play in a varsity famous for its partying. After matriculating in 2007, Amy has been on a whirlwind adventure through her first year at Rhodes University and shows no sign of stopping the late nights despite the upcoming end of year exams.

Living at Mosslands Farm, which is situated 20km outside of Grahamstown, Amy feels quite at home at Rhodes. As an ex-Kingswood College student, she has become accustomed to the student behaviour around the town and now that she is a first year, she is enjoying every minute of life without the uniform.

On Wednesdays, Fridays and some Saturdays you will definitely find Amy at her local haunts which include the Rat and Parrot, Friar Tuck’s and the Rhodes Union as these are places where “you can dance, buy cheap drinks and have a fantastic night out with friends”, she says. Since “O-Week”, her first and fondest memory from Rhodes, Amy has always been a social butterfly with endless amounts of energy and a carefree attitude but as a BJourn (Bachelor of Journalism) student, Amy knows that life at varsity is not all about the parties; it is also about the degree. She remembers her parent’s advice about working hard at university and finding a balance between varsity’s social and academic aspects, and admits that she could be working harder. “I’ve always been a bit of a procrastinator when it comes to academic work so I could be doing a lot better in my studies but I’m coping”, she says as she gently flicks a strand of blonde hair away from her face.

Amy rarely stresses or gets nervous about anything and seems to have adopted the “If you worry die, if you don’t worry you die, so why worry?” attitude when it comes to varsity. On the rare occasion that the workload becomes a bit overwhelming or she has a low moment, Amy is able to calm things down and pick herself up by watching various movies, reading a good book by Marian Keyes or going out with friends. “When things get a bit hectic I also have the habit of biting my nails, I just can’t help it but I’m trying to stop”, she says whilst blushing.

Amy takes her degree very seriously especially since only 120 out of 280 first years will make it into second year journalism but always make time for social functions and nights out with friends. Despite her love of partying till dawn, Amy is able to keep on top of her assignments and tests, participate in various res events and pass her exams whilst maintaining her extremely high energy levels making her the envy of many students.

Amy has managed to crack the varsity system and find a successful lifestyle that has enabled her to keep afloat of her work whilst enjoying everything that varsity has to offer. Her love for life and having fun has enabled her to remain happy in an extremely stressful environment. Her ability to balance the social aspects with the academic aspects of varsity has provided Amy with the opportunity to meet new people and have a fantastic first year whilst exploring everything that Grahamstown and Rhodes has to offer. Amy Moss is a survivor of the pressures of first year and is looking forward to partying many more nights away in Grahamstown whilst taking all the obstacles that come her way in her stride.