​Being a student is about more than just studying – it is also about opportunities to move the boundaries of comfort zones and to grow as people and South Africans. Three students in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciencess shared something about their co-curricular journey.

"If you leave university with only a degree you have wasted your time," says Dewald Müller, honours student in Actuarial Science, student entrepreneur and co-​founder of the Adflow company (read more). 

Not only has he won several entrepreneurial awards during the past year, but he and four other Matie students were also selected to take part in a sought-after international leadership development programme (SAWIP) in Washington.

The programme is aimed at inspiring, developing and supporting a new generation of South African leaders. A group of 20 students from all over South Africa left for the USA in June and will spend approximately six weeks there.

"It is an unbelievable privilege to be part of SAWIP," says Dewald. "It has been one of the biggest learning curves in my life.

"All my expectations have already been surpassed. SAWIP provides a platform where young South African leaders can challenge each other and can collaborate to change and help improve the future of South Africa. I expect that by the conclusion of this programme I will have a much broader outlook on issues that affect our society as well as be part of a bigger network of young leaders that will leave their mark on this country," he adds.

"Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible," believes Anita Engelbrecht. In May this year Anita and Chaeli Mycroft were part of the first wheelchair teams to participate in the Comrades marathon.

In 2015 Anita Engelbrecht, who studies Management Accounting, jokingly said that she never thought she would be a member of the Bellville Athletics Club (read more).

In the mean time this Matie student, who suffers from spastic diplegia and has been in a wheelchair her whole life, together with another club member, Hilton Murray, have completed the Cape Town Marathon, the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra-marathon and the Comrades marathon.

Murray pushes Anita in a jogger, a cart that is specially designed for this purpose. The team does this to raise awareness for the Chaeli Sports and Recreation Club (that promotes sports and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities within an inclusive social framework​) and PinkDrive.

Anita described the Comrades as a life-enriching experience.

"Hilton did my mom and dad's first Comrades with them. It is in my genes. What a privilege it has been to have been able to realise my dream in this way. It was so nice to have been able to share in the runners' culture and experience the route. It is a privilege for me to pave the way for other disabled people who also want to be part of sport."

The team completed the route in a time of 10:57:51.

"The support of the people along the route was unbelievable. It is wonderful how most people buy into our vision and mission. The positive feedback makes it all worthwhile. This experience has given me hope for mankind again," she adds.

Hope is also an important theme for this year's Miss Varsity Cup, Maties' Joy Mashego.

Joy, an Accounting student in her third year, originally hails from the informal settlement Mahushu in Mpumulanga and lost both her parents when she was very young. She has only praise for her older sister who had made many sacrifices to look after her and "has shown her what unconditional love" is.

Joy's potential was spotted early on and she received a bursary to attend Uplands College in White River. She decided early in her high-school career that she wanted to become a chartered accountant and works very hard at achieving this goal.

Although she does modelling as a hobby it was never part of her plan to enter beauty contests. Her friends nominated her without her knowing. However, she was very pleased to find out that the Miss Varsity Cup competition is about more than just looks and that it also includes a community-service component.

She feels very strongly about community service. "My community had done so much for me and I really want to give something back. There is so much that still needs to be done."

Her message to especially young girls is that it is possible to change your circumstances.

"We often give people material things, but we also need to give them hope and set an example," she says. "We have to remind them that anything is possible."