Tyreen: My First-Year Hero

Honesty is the best policy kiddies!

Her quiet confidence exudes through a slight strut in her walk. Her casual, stylish outfit of a simple brown tracksuit jacket and black tight fitting pants emphasises that she is a laid-back kind of girl, who places comfort before any kinds of pressure that other girls experience in terms of fashion here at Rhodes University. Her Port Elizabeth Coloured accent accentuates her pride at whom she is and where she comes from; another aspect of herself that she has refused to abandon since arriving at Rhodes University. Her retention of who she is and where she comes from was probably the best decision Tyreen could have ever made for herself, because from the moment she receives her final results at the end of the year, she will no longer be a Rhodes University student (in short; no longer a rhodent).

“It’s like there’s basically two groups at Rhodes; the academics that study every single weekend and do nothing but study, and the partying people that go out every night. There can’t be an in between.” It seems as though Tyreen does not feel the passion that has driven many to continue with their journey at Rhodes. She is not part of the cluster of first year Journalism and Media Studies students who are now scrambling and stressing about putting together portfolio applications for JMS 2. Before discussing her feelings about Rhodes she begins by rolling up the sleeves of her jacket, as though what is about to be discussed is a matter of grave gravity. The first words uttered when asked about her reasons for leaving Rhodes are; “Because I’m not enjoying the vibe of the people.” After making her opening comment she begins to relax stating that the polarisation of students may change in second year and this is why (with a giggle) “I may actually take a rope”. She then returns back to her serious manner and speaks about her unhappiness here at Rhodes and her plans to discontinue her Journalism course. She no longer feels any reason to continue her studies here, because the only reason she applied to Rhodes University was because of her passion for journalism, which has now dwindled to the point of non-existence, “I’ve realised its not for me and I’d rather save my parents money and go to a cheaper university, then carry on with something that I know I’m not gonna enjoy.”

Her initial passion for Journalism was highlighted by her participation and willingness to learn more about it. In her matric year 2006 she entered a writing competition, the Steven Biko Media Competition, where she was chosen as one of the top twenty students. She received an opportunity to visit Rhodes University during Orientation week, where she was shown all the aspects of the Journalism and Media Studies course. “It was fun, but not the writing bit. But the practical; the filming and everything, we did all that. So that made me wanna come.” She also took a gap year where she did a Journalism course at NMMU, where the focus was also on the practical side of journalism. However first year journalism here at Rhodes focuses on the theory and practical comes into play mostly in third year. So that may have been the cause for her loss of passion for it.

As she begins speaking about how much she misses home, she picks up a leaf from the ground, looking at it she begins to bend and fold it with her long delicate fingers. “I don’t know if it’s because I miss home too much, cause I’ve been going home a lot; like every second or third week… and it’s a waste of money so I might as well go back home.” Her father she describes as being ecstatic about her return home, while her mother is so disappointed that she won’t help Tyreen with filling in her application forms. And this assistance is necessary to Tyreen because she thinks she has terrible hand-writing.

When asked why she feels that anywhere else will be better, she smiles with a slightly guilty look on her face and says, “Cause it’s not here.” Rhodes University students, she feels, are on their own mission and not one will smile at you just for the sake of smiling. She does not feel that she belongs here and craves that feeling of home that Rhodes University does not offer her. She does have a small group of friends that she says are unhappy about her decision to leave, but as much as she has grown to love them, she is just “over it”.

One can only respect this young lady for not giving up at the moment that she realised that Rhodes University was not for her. She struggled and fought against her desires to forsake this place and return home. Her realisation that she wanted to leave came about in the first term but she has stayed and plans to remain here until she completes her exams. To me Tyreen Ragadu is a true first-year hero, because the best hero you can be is an honest hero.Read what Tyreen has to say about first year on: http://www.truthaboutlies101.blogspot.com/