Page 9 - NEWSLETTER 11V2.cdr

MR SELLO

MATSEPANE

do was to make sure that we at least had drinking. I would get an ‘S’ symbol which NSFAS and my application was
mealie meal for pap, the other things like was too low for university entry. I only successful. I changed my career stream
clothing were not a priority. We achieved exemption during my third from social work to LLB degree also
depended on our relatives for second year of repeating Grade Twelve. I had no known as Bachelor of Laws degree. This
hand clothing and handouts for our intentions to further my studies as I career choice was still not easy for me.
other living necessities. could not afford university. All I wanted There was a subject I kept failing. During
was to find employment and to work. m y f i n a l y e a r o f u n i v e r s i t y, I
My grandmother also passed on and life impregnated my girlfriend who is now
became more challenging as we were MOVING TO my wife. My family went to her home
now only dependant on our mother for and paid damages to her family as I had
financial support. Our impoverished GAUTENG impregnated their daughter out of
state of living affected me very badly owards the end of 1996, I wedlock.
and I consequently struggled to pass my relocated to Elandsfontein in
Grade Twelve with good marks even TGermiston. I stayed with my Early in 2004, I found employment in a
though I was an intelligent learner. My Pretoria law firm before my academic
uncle and spent the whole year of 1997
mother struggled to make ends meet. results were released. I was confident
at home doing nothing. I then started to
that I had passed but when the results
apply to universities to further my
I would occasionally cut people’s hair studies. I was accepted at university but were released, I found that I had failed
and clean their fields to earn money still had no funds to further my studies. I that subject that was giving me
which I used to support my siblings and challenges. I was consequently unable
then applied for a loan and my uncle
to buy alcohol. I started drinking when I to graduate. I informed my then
stood as surety for the loan which I
was in Grade Ten but lost control over my received. employer that I had failed one subject
alcohol intake when I was in Grade and they afforded me the opportunity to
Twelve. My drinking further negatively go back and study whilst working. It was
There was no career guidance given in
impacted on my studies. I could not even not easy to be working and studying at
rural areas during the time when I was
afford expensive alcohol and would the same time. I missed tests and
growing up. I registered for social work
mostly drink African beer known as during my first year at the University of deadlines for assignments and ended up
umqobothi. My friends would buy Witwatersrand. It did not take long failing the course yet again. I only
umqobothi for me on days when I could managed to pass it the following year.
before I realized that I had taken a career
not afford to buy for myself. There would By the time I passed this course the
choice that I was not compatible with. It
be days where my friends and I would curriculum credit score rules had
was during the same time that I also
afford to buy beer and that would make found out that there were other changed, and I was short with 2 points to
us feel so important among our peers. I sponsors for financial assistance such as graduate. I had to study an additional
repeated Grade Twelve thrice as I was no course to gain the points. I passed the
NSFAS. I then applied for funding with
longer fully focused on my studies but on course and was able to graduate in 2006.

<<Page06 | Newsletter Issue 11>>