Dear younger Candice
This is around the time when you will be getting everything together to leave for Rhodes. By this stage, most your friends have left for Stellenbosch and UCT and you are counting down the days until you get to go off on your own adventure. Do not do this! Savour your time at home with your family and friends who are still around, you will miss them dearly when you first get to Rhodes. However, you are in for the best experience of your life. You have absolutely no reason to be apprehensive, you are going into the best house with the most amazing and supportive group of girls imaginable.
Despite this, there are a couple of things I wish I had known before leaving for varsity: take as many things as you can that will make your room feel like home, fill it with photographs and pillows and colourful things because it will be where you spend most of your time when exam time comes around. Also, leave home with an open mind and a sense of adventure; this is the start of a new phase in your life and a chance to become who you really want to be. You will no longer be restricted by the rules and boundaries of school and home and will be free to be whoever you want.
Don’t get sucked into whatever the crowd is doing, march to your own beat and really experience all that the little town of Grahamstown has to offer.
On a lighter note, be prepared, Rhodes is somewhat lacking in eligible bachelors, to not expect to be swept off your feet. Also, stay away from Pirates, Munchies and all those places that look highly appealing when intoxicated, first year spread is not a myth. Most of all, don’t be afraid to try something new, be different, be opinionated or even just let loose for a bit. It all part of the Rhodes experience. It is a place like no other and you will be introduced to some crazy events and traditions and take advantage of all of these because they allow you to get involved and become a true Rhodent.
Start working on your alcohol tolerance :)
Love Candice xxx
1 comments:
Hey Candice/Candy
I chose to write my comment on your blog in particular because it's simply so true! I've read a few others and they just don't seem to relate to my experience of first year at all whereas yours does so pretty much completely. While I may not have been hit by first year spread as you warn of in there (us guys just don't seem to get it at all), I definitely know all about the whole alcohol tolerance story, it's well important. Mostly, though, I really dig your line about avoiding getting "sucked into whatever the crowd is doing". So true hey, especially here. But that's what makes Rhodes so great I suppose, it's that you can do and be anything you want and never be truly judged. You have got to love it.
Anyway, enjoy blogging :)
Craig/DirtyHippy
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