New beginnings for Born Frees!

 

It’s the start of a new chapter for about 27 000 students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), including the first batch of Born Frees …

 

The 2013 academic year began today for 27 000-plus students, known at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University as Madibaz. They include about 7000 Born-Frees who popped into the world, and a new democratic South Africa, in 1994. These newbies are pretty easy to spot with their big eyes, nervous smiles, new books, bags and enthusiasm. And they’re often lost.

But I was lost today too – looking for a centre on Missionvale Campus (yes, NMMU is pretty big) – and asked a student if he knew where it was.

“Sorry Ma’am, I am a first year and this is my first day of lectures,” he beamed.

What great hope this management student held for his future (for I learnt that this was what he would be studying). All bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and expectant of empowering himself through education … and I thought, long may it last.

Long may he remain enthusiastic; long may he stay focused on the goals ahead and long may he remember those who are making sacrifices for him to attend a university.

We’ll be watching him and the other Born Frees …

But in the interim tonight we’ll be watching our rugby Madibaz in the Varsity Cup competition in a televised home game against Wits University. It is here when I see our diverse student body supporting our equally diverse rugby team that I really get excited about South Africa’s future … for there’s unity in our great diversity.

See you there!