The more you communicate and share your dreams, the better the chances are that these dreams will come true. This is one of the reasons why hundreds of cards containing the hand-written dreams of newcomer students are currently hanging on trees on the campus of Stellenbosch University (SU).
These dream cards will be on display for the next few days and anybody who walks past is welcome to stop and read them. Most of the dream cards can be found in Victoria Street.
The Welcoming Event of newcomer students at the Danie Craven Stadium at Stellenbosch University (SU) yesterday (24 January), was aptly themed as the “Dream Launch".
Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor said in his welcoming speech that this event was billed as a “dream launch" and invited to the students to engage with him on this topic. “Let's talk about that … your dreams as a student; your dreams as a young person starting out in life as an adult Your dreams as parents and guardians and friends and family; your dreams for our students who you would like to achieve success so that they can move forward in life.
“And let's talk about our dreams as University – a place where we share a commitment to knowledge and to common values; a place where we care about knowledge and about people. And our dreams as a country, a continent, a planet … the dreams of a nation, the dreams of humanity. Here dreams are cherished, new dreams are born, and you have the opportunity to make your dreams come true," he said.
After the new Maties formed a massive “2019" with senior students on the field, they were integrated into a new Matie community which they will remain part of for the rest of their lives.
Every student then had the opportunity to focus on his/her dream, write it on a card and therefore share and communicate the dream. This symbolised the igniting of their dreams. After that, they all marched from the stadium to Victoria Street on the campus where they went a step further by hanging their dreams onto the trees for everyone to see. This symbolised the start of their journey to realise their dreams.
Fun, music, dancing and excitement were part of the march. Some students said they still felt a bit anxious about the start of their new lives and did not know what to expect. Other were simply enjoying the moment and did not seem to worry too much about the future.
Corporate Communications spoke to a few students during the march to Victoria Road.
First-year Economic Management Science student, Harriet Twessa from Malawi said, “I want to travel the world and do my postgrad studies abroad where I will also be working hopefully."
Zimbabwean-born Jessica Cormick born said, “I want to inspire more girls to become more interested in Science and become Scientists. I want them to look beyond the entertainment industry, not that it would be a bad career choice, but perhaps help do away with the perception that Science is difficult and that it is for males."
Xander Henning, a first year Civil Engineering student from Durbanville, said he was looking forward to getting good marks and doing well academically.
Farouk Lwanga all the way from Uganda is a first year BCom Management Science student. “I would like to get good marks for my course and later become a businessman who shares knowledge with family and friends," Farouk said.
Katleho Sehloho from Johanessburg, a BCom Actuarial Science student, said, “In the next few years I want to focus on my studies while I work towards my dream of eventually becoming an actuary."
Mr Pieter Kloppers, Director of Student Communities at SU, said the Dream Launch was a big success. They plan to make it an annual event that links up with the welcoming of newcomer students.
