Finally, I can proudly say that I have completed my honours degree! I honestly have no words to describe just how elated I feel, yet in turn, feel somewhat saddened that this whole process has come to an end. With blood, sweat and tears came a year filled with great friendships, experiences and opportunities. Below is a reflection that I wrote which expands upon how I felt about completing this year.

…Surviving Honours 2012…

As I reflect upon how I felt going into this year, I felt a great sense of excitement. I felt like I could take on the world and I was ready to make the most of the year that lay before me. Having been accepted into BA Corporate Communication Honours preceding the completion of my BA Corporate Communication degree, I felt exhilarated and motivated to do my absolute best. However, once classes for the course had begun, it had come to my attention that the year I had anticipated was not on the agenda. This year encompassed the merging of two degrees, namely: BA Corporate Communication and BA Marketing Communication and I was somewhat unfamiliar with the work that followed. This of course left me feeling uneasy and after completing three years of studies it was clear to me that I did not know as much as I thought I did and that preparing myself for the next chapter of my life was going to be a long, hard journey. A harsh realisation.

Each and every week involved the completion of numerous assignments, preparation for tutorials which I had to conduct on a weekly basis and purely involved ‘surviving’. Weekends were there to catch up on the work that was unable to be completed in the week and in the midst of such chaotic times; relaxation was greatly appreciated owing to its scarcity. However, as the year went on, it came to my attention that every student in this honours class had one thing in common – we were all just trying to ‘survive’ this year and the challenges that it brought upon, thus bringing us all closer together. There is nothing quite as satisfying as being able to work hand in hand with some of the most competitive individuals that I have ever met. The fact that people can put aside their personal goals of being the best and instead help one another to overcome any obstacles is something quite remarkable.

This year taught me that being the ‘best in the class’ just isn’t something worth striving for, but rather to strive to be your own personal best. In doing so, remaining passionate and helpful to others is vital. This year, as demanding as it was, reminded me of the importance of remembering to breathe and take a look at the bigger picture sometimes. It reminded me that growth is inevitable and not only encompasses growing as an academic, but rather just as an individual as a whole. Getting through this year has certainly changed my perspective of life. As the middle of the year approached, this changed perspective became significant with regards to the way I completed my work. For instance, the honours class was briefed by Ogilvy SA about the requirement of creating our own blogs with regards to their Ogilvy Graduate Programme. To my horror, I now had to voice my opinion to the world and come up with an amazing idea to get myself known. After days of frustration, it became clear to me that if I was to successfully accomplish the task at hand, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and I needed to write as honestly and passionately as possible. The name of the blog that I created? For The Love. This concept revolves around the importance that the small things in life play within our lives and the impact that they have in shaping us into who we become – obviously inspired by my new changed perspective of life that honours has contributed towards.

In the long run, after three months of blogging about the troubles of honours, as well as realising how trivial they actually were; I felt as if I had become a new person. I felt as if I had grown into a passionate individual, ready to approach new obstacles head-on. Although this year has been nothing short of draining and relentless, the never-ending tasks that the year entailed essentially taught me so much about myself and taught me that nothing is impossible with a little bit of determination and hard work. Praise did not come easily, however in moments of success, humility and appreciation was essential. Secondly, my fellow students that I was initially competing with were the people that left the biggest impact on me this year. The fact that we had in common to desire to be successful, meant that we all motivated each other towards becoming better individuals. Thirdly, the amount of knowledge and experience that I have gained this year is something I will forever be appreciative for. The lecturers that have constantly given their time to the honours students of this year have moulded us into the best people that we could be and although harsh at times, have contributed towards making us stronger and more driven for perfection. Myself especially.

As the year 2013 approaches, (well, hopefully it does) I feel confident and prepared to start the next chapter of my life. Looking back at who I was as I completed my undergraduate degree in 2011, the amount of growth that has taken place since then is quite unbelievable. I cannot express how difficult this year was, but in turn how undoubtedly important it was. I am grateful for everything that I gained from this year and with no regrets say that I am glad that it did not turn out to be what I had initially anticipated. In essence, blood, sweat and tears were very much a part of getting through this year, but the friendships, knowledge and growth that comes with the completion of it is truly something quite extraordinary.

Bring on 2013. I’m ready.

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The passage below concisely sums up how I intend to move forward and take on the next chapter of my life…

“Dare to Be”…

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.
When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be!”

– Steve Maraboli