Per Welcome Period Topic & Residence/PSO
Feedback from Academia
I found that welcoming went well. I made many new friends and I am confident that the welcoming also created that opportunity to meet new people for my mentees.I had many activities with my mentees where we interacted and they could ask me questions or tell me about how they are fitting in.
Feedback from Silene
Welcoming taught me a lot about myself and my leadership style. I was forced out of my comfort zone but learnt a lot about leadership in an university structure. I have bonded to my mentees and have learned just as much from them as they did from me. I feel satisfied in that I feel as if I was successful in influencing their welcoming period positively.
Feedback from Silene
Welcoming was a a very good experience but not without its challenges. It was tough at times to adhere to the covid protocols and we were struggling to hear each other of the masks. Maintaining social distancing with the newcomers was tough. Overall welcoming was alot of fun. I made alot of new friends and learnt alot about myself as a leader. Further it was also interesting to work with such a diverse group of people who each have their own way of leading and going about things. I would definitely want to be part of the Silene Leadership group in the future.
Feedback from Helshoogte
This Welcoming in which my role was a mentor was considerably different from the one I experienced before as a newcomer. Firstly the responsibility that came with my position created an extra dimension to process. Now I was accountable to my fellow welcoming leaders as well as to the newcomers who all wanted the best possible beginning to University. This came with longer hours more organization meetings and matters I had to see to. Although this was challenging and pushed me out of my comfort zone I greatly value this for the benefit it had on my personal growth and improvement as a person.Secondly the emotional impact this Welcoming had one me was from a different perspective. Now seeing the newcomers arrive at our residence and become a part of our family created a great sense of pride in me for them and our residence. Activities that we merely seen as fun by me last welcoming now had a personal aspect and evoked strong feelings of attachment. All in all this experience was very enriching to me and what I have learnt will help me significantly in the future.
Feedback from Harmonie
Welcoming was a lot of fun and i really got to know my mentees. They opened up to me and i fee like they would come to me if they need me. This period was very busy and sometimes this could be very overwhelming for me and my mentees but overall welcoming was a positive experience.
Feedback from Silene
Welcoming was a time full of ups and downs. Meeting new people and building relationships with those I've known for a while. It was a time where I got to know myself better and discover my shortcomings as well as strengths.
Feedback from Venustia
I had a lot of fun and I enjoyed getting to know my mentees better and spending time with them. It was a lot of hard work but I think it paid off.
Feedback from Aristea
I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of welcoming . Meeting my mentees and hearing about all their life experiences gave me a new perspective and it was a great learning opportunity. I loved putting effort into the people that chose to join even after the long days and also knowing I had my great team of mentors by my side to keep me going . I have made life long friends .
Feedback from Equite
Welcoming was overwhelming and difficult in the beginning. I think in the midst of everything happening in the beginning I felt a slight disconnect to my Mentees. However by the 2nd and 3rd day I could see us building trust in each other. It was so much fun to be able to connect to them and to assure them that whatever varsity may push onto them I'm hete and vice versa. We got to know each other personally and on a deeper level. It made the rest if the welcoming process beyond my expectations. As much as I felt like I connected with my own mentees and grew such a great relationship where I can text them for coffee and know they'll be there I also engaged with other newcomers and fostered a relationship with them too. It makes the whole process so fulfilling and makes all the hard work behind the scenes worth it.
Feedback from Helshoogte
In a nutshell this was quite an experience for me because i missed my orientation because i arrived late. Not only was i a leader I also took part in the activities as i was experiencing the program for the first time.I am so glad i got this opportunity. In relation to the newcomersI got to meet a lot of new faces from different walks of life and bonded with them. Mostly important is the growth i saw from the moment of moving into Res to the point after wellcoming.I liked the morning coffees to catchup about how the next person slept. It brings a sense of brotherhood and a community that values relationships.
Feedback from Equite
Welcoming was not the easiest experience for me. Waking up at 6am was difficult and getting very little sleep made getting through the day a mission but I was able to push through. The programme went on and we were able to make it a success. Although my mentees were confused they managed to enjoy their welcoming and make new friends and meet new people. I encouraged them all to do new things and try things that they might never have thought of even attempting. I felt incredibly proud watching them enjoy themselves and make new memories. Having my mentees thank me for what I did for them and tell me how much they appreciated the work the PSO put into Welcoming was an absolute highlight for me and kept me going. Welcoming was not only an amazing opportunity for my mentees it was an amazing for me as a mentor. I made new friends and developed deeper relationships with other friends. I laughed and learnt new things. It was a time for me to grow and learn more about other people and relationships. I was also able to learn more about myself as a leader and a person. I discovered more about how I explain things and found a greater confidence in myself.There were lows and problems that my mentees fellow mentors and leadership and I experienced but at the end of the day I feel that Welcoming as a mentor was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. I hope that no matter how my mentees felt that I was able to help them feel even a little bit better and more comfortable in this unknown time.Welcoming was confusing and exciting and I am so glad that I was able to experience it and help the newcomers feel more welcome and comfortable in their choice to study at Stellenbosch university.
Feedback from Helshoogte
Welcoming was great as I did not get to fully experience it in my first year. It was busy and in moments explosive. It felt good knowing you are part of someone's welcoming experience and hold the power to make or break it.
Feedback from Venustia
I had a lot of fun and I enjoyed getting to know my mentees better and spending time with them. It was a lot of hard work but I think it paid off.
Feedback from Vesta
Welcoming was an interesting period of time since it was different to usual. I feel however that it allowed us to experience different things to usual which has positives and negatives. I feel the newcomers where less likely to join in unless they really were going to enjoy the activity since there was little payout physically. For example Connect it was great to practice dances and have fun times but many decided to drop it because they werent going to dance on a stage. Communication was great we had interesting discussions and many critical engagement chats. And its great to have such a strong group of minds. I hope to still stay in strong contact with all my mentees and hope that they found our sessions usefull
Feedback from Venustia
Wow. how do you sum up one of the best times of my university career? Welcoming was a the busiest yet most incredible time. I made strong bonds with fellow mentors and HC members that I will cherish forever. I also loved getting to know my mentees and form bonds with them. I enjoyed the activities that were planned I enjoyed watching the first years make friends with each other. I felt safe not only mentally but also physically despite being in a pandemic. COVID protocols were followed so I did not feel I had to worry about that. There were so many laughs a few stressful moments that we had to deal with and so many memories made. It was a wonderful few weeks.
Feedback from Huis Franci van Zijl
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Feedback from Hippokrates
It was the greatest experience I have ever had. I love each and everyone one of my mentees we have managed to form such a strong bond in only a matter of 2 weeks. I am very excited for what the year has to offer.
Feedback from Aristea
I had a big group of mentees but I only had the full group there for the first day after that it kept getting smaller and smaller. Only about half of the group actually participated fully and would actually try to make new friends and bond with new people while the other half only came when they were going to get something or needed something and would stick to their old groups of friends instead of branching out. I had some wonderful mentees who would love to be there and would try to make it every day even if it was just for a little while while i had other mentees who were very uninterested in the Welcoming Program. However I had a wonderful experience with my mentees and time flew by probably we were busy every single day and it was a lot of fun. There were definitely times that I would get frustrated with my mentees as they would personally message me certain questions but the answers to those questions were all in the information I had already sent them like an hour prior. I also had a pretty rough time with some of my friends who were also mentors but had to pretend like everything was fine in front of my mentees. I have become very close with some of my mentees now and don't hide much from them anymore though and we still talk over the phone very often we've also made plans to hang out some time after the craziness of the first few weeks of university die down.
Feedback from Harmonie
The day before Welcoming I started getting really nervous because I was scared that I wasn't going to succeed in being a good enough mentor for my mentees. My nervousness quickly subsided after I met my mentees in person and realized if I gave them a welcoming environment and made them feel comfortable I am already doing a lot. So during my first session my mentees were a bit shy since none of them knew each other or me. Doing ice breakers with them definitely broke the ice because they started opening up and started to feel more comfortable. My experience of welcoming was also not what I expected. I didn't think that my mentee group will open up and that they were willing to talk about things out of their comfort zone. But every single one of them surprised me and I had great welcoming where they engaged in all of the topics and they also took part in the conversation even though they were tired. I would definitely say that I had a great welcoming experience.By the end of welcoming my mentees got really tired. Even though my mentees were still engaging and taking part in the mentor sessions all the activities and things they did made them really tired and they told me they struggled with all the things that they needed to do. I feel like welcoming is a lot of fun but it does take a toll on some of the newcomers and they struggle to cope. With all of that and the topics we needed to discuss I also got really tired and some of the mentor sessions was a bit difficult to do when everyone was that tired. Other than that my experience of welcoming was fun.
Feedback from Helshoogte
Each new day was better then the previous and the first years grew with every moment as well. The program had its ups and downs but mostly positive feedback on the movement of the events.The beginning of welcoming was mostly everywhere with the first years moving in and the end of training. First years were quiet at first but with the days passing they started to find their rhythm and became more relaxed throughout the rest of welcoming.
Feedback from Huis Franci van Zijl
Welcoming was indeed an amazing yet craaazy time being so busy with both study work as well as the mentoring business... so I wouldn't say it was easy juggling between the two but I have never been more grateful for having the opportunity to be a mentor - if the mentees are much more comfortable with each other now after just 2 weeks of being together I am truely looking forward to the rest of the year!
Feedback from Silene
I thoroughly enjoyed welcoming despite all the changes that came with COVID19 and having to follow new protocols. I found myself appreciating this welcoming period much more than last year as I knew how close the possibility was that this wouldn't even take place this year but I still new what a valuable experience it is for first years to attend it to integrate them into University Life. I put in a lot of effort into this Welcoming Period to ensure that the newcomers had an amazing Orientation despite all the outside factors limiting this. I also knew that this was my last year in Stellenbosch University so I soaked up every moment and put my all in as I came to the realization that I will never be able to do this over. While I did have a wonderful time COVID19 definitely did add its challenges to the welcoming period. Social Distancing proved very difficult with large groups especially when it came to walking town / crossing streets as a unit or trying to speak to everyone while ensuring that everyone could hear. Furthermore mentoring sessions proved very challenging due to masks as you couldn't see any facial expressions of the newcomers and how they were experiencing the sessions. Although the newcomers of 2021 weren't lucky enough to experience the actual Vensters event I am still impressed with the university that they put in the effort to create an alternative and I had a lot of fun helping out with this and seeing that the newcomers still enjoyed it. Ultimately I was very happy and grateful that welcoming (even if not how we know it to be) could still go forth.
Feedback from Silene
Welcoming 2021 was nothing i expected it to be. It was a lot of hard work more so than welcoming 2020. There were a lot of high tensions frustrations and stresses. But there was also a lot laughter good times and fun being had this welcoming.Welcoming started really well and everyone was super excited to be back on campus living the stellenbosch life. All the newcomers were so excited to start their new chapter. I have a lovely group of 14 mentees all of them studying Bcom or Bacc. Mentor sessions were a little more challenging than i thought they would be due to the mask wearing. Due to covid protocol everyone had to social distance while sitting in a circle and wear a mask. It wasn't just a matter of a hearing diffuclty due to the distance between us and the mask it was sometimes an overall communication difficulty. Because the mask covers half the face it was very difficult to see if my mentees were interacting with me when i did hear verbal response. I could not read their facial expressions which made it challenging to tell whether or not they were invested in the topic of conversation at times. Nearly everyone struggled hearing each other speak so at times we just sat laughing at the fact that it felt like we were constantly playing broken telephone. But as the week progressed it did get a little bit better especially when i got to know each mentee better. The feedback i received from my mentees was all positive and they said they found the mentor sessions very informative.Vensters practices were a major stress. There was very minimal planning put into each practice and our Vensters HK did not communicate to the leadership what was required. I took charge of our modern/couples dance. Myself and another mentor were the choreographers and teachers of this dance. This caused some frustrations because our ideas and solutions to problems were often shot down. The lack of communication to the mentors caused major confusion amongst us and the newcomers. This did not make me feel good because it made the leadership look bad at times.In terms of interactions with my mentees all the other newcomers and events with them i had so much fun. I felt like i really connected with my mentees and i managed to help them out with lots of admin issues. The leadership had a few problems but nothing that couldn't be sorted out during a debreif at the end of each day. Towards the end of welcoming admin stuff felt a little bit easier. It was not an easy welcoming. I feel like i learnt a lot more about myself. I have definitely learnt more about the people i want to surround myself with and how to stand up for myself.
Feedback from Harmonie
I found welcoming to be an amazing time. Each day brought new challenges and different joys. It was an extremely busy week for the first years and for us as mentors too. The mentees were nervous and awkward in the first session as it was their first day here and everything was new and overwhelming for them. However after the second session or so everyone seemed much more relaxed and comfortable around each other. Given I had three mentees for the period of welcoming we became very close with each other and formed bonds very quickly. They confided in me more and more each day and each session bonded us as a group closer. Inside jokes were formed and everyone relaxed as the week progressed. One or two sessions did not go as well as I had hoped however the sessions after these were much better and made up for them. Overall Welcoming was a success for me as a mentor as I feel as if I am a person to whom they will come to when they want to chat or confide in me.
Feedback from Vesta
Welcoming this year was one of the biggest learning curves I have experienced in a long time as well as the largest amount of personal growth I have had in a small amount of time. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though it was extremely hard work.
Feedback from Harmonie
Welcoming was not at all what I expected. It was a whirlwind from start to finish however I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was far busier than I anticipated and I found the politics surrounding being in leadership quite tedious and difficult. However I found myself getting along with my fellow mentors far better than I could ever have anticipated.Welcoming also taught me a lot about communication. A team simply can't function if communication isn't present. There were a few communitication breakdowns in the early days of welcoming but we learned and adjusted quickly. Once communication was fixed things improved drastically. My overall experience of welcoming was exactly that. It was truly a time of welcoming. I felt welcomed as a mentor and I know my mentees felt welcomed in turn. It felt like a time in which we could all bond get to know one another make new friends and connections and learn about being a leader. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience even though covid regulations tended to add layers of stress and difficulty to what would ordinarily be a straight forward task. Most importantly it felt like no task was too great for me to undertake when I had my team around me.
Feedback from Silene
i really really enjoyed welcoming. it was so much fun overall. I loved creating bonds with the mentees and the other leadership we became really close towards the end of welcoming and throughout it. I did underestimate the workload and the way it would be overwhelming even on day 1 I was exhausted but I really wouldn't change anything about welcoming. having the most amazing experience as a first year i want to give the first years the same that I had ( under current circumstances) and i think i achieved that as well as silene as a whole.
Feedback from Aristea
This experience was very rewarding in many ways. I learned alot myself and from my mentees on how they preceive university very different than what i as a first year lastyear perceived university as. I experienced quite a comfortable chaos mentees that engage (those who showed up)
Feedback from Vesta
Welcoming was a really different experience this year. I was able to see how I looked as a newcomer. The Welcoming period was quite tiring but it was all worth it. There were obviously some ups and downs that happened but lessons well learnt. I really enjoyed the spirit that we portrayed as a leadership and the newcomers also started to feel our energy. Big ups to Chad and Cameron who were the leaders of spirit for Vesta. Even though we were quite restricted in terms of activities(due to covid) I quite enjoyed the activites we did like: the community discussions and cluster day. I feel that we did our best in transitioning our Vestonian newcomers into Stellenbosch University.
Feedback from Harmonie
In all honesty Welcoming was not what I expected it to be. Yes it was much busier than I anticipated; however it was much more exciting and thrilling than I expected.I really enjoyed challenging myself and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Even though this is not always easy it allows one to grow and personal growth is something I love!I also truly appreciated working with a group of such diverse mentors yet experiencing that you can still have unity as a group even though everyone is not exactly the same.I learnt A LOT about the importance of communication. A team simply cannot function optimally without proper communication. I also appreciated having a 'permission to speak freely' zone where we could unwind and reflect on the day's events.I also enjoyed experiencing welcoming again since lockdown started very shortly after welcoming ended in my first year. It was wonderful to just experience the exciting atmosphere of living in residence again.All in all Welcoming was a truly positive and enriching experience! It was an honour to be part of this Welcoming Week.
Feedback from Irene
Welcoming went well I enjoyed being there for my mentees and helping them to feel welcome in Irene and in University as a whole. It made me feel good since one of the reasons for me to apply for the mentor position was to make sure that they do not feel alone and they feel like they have a sister that they can talk to whenever they are not feeling okay.
Feedback from Vesta
Welcoming had its challenges but it was an amazing experience getting to know the newcomers who comes from different backgrounds and share different stories but all who came together with great energy to make welcoming a success.
Feedback from Aristea
Welcoming was an adventure of its own. We had many obstacles that we needed to over come due to covid but we triumphed at the end of the day. It was an amazing experience to be able to help someone adjust to their university life and provide someone else with tips that you've learnt along your own journey to help them with theirs. Not only that but at the same time building strong bonds and connections with people that are bound to last was the cherry on top of the cake. Even though I am not in contact with all of my mentees the ones that I am still in contact with I know we will walk a path together and for that I will always be grateful.
Feedback from Huis ten Bosch
Welcoming week was much more hectic than anticipated we barely had personal time. However I really enjoyed spending time with our new HtB babies and getting to know them. I will forever be grateful for the memories we have created and I am looking forward to making even more memories with them.
Feedback from Nerina
It was very fulfilling to watch my mentees assimilate the house culture and values so as to find their own place in Nerina
Feedback from Pieke
It was fun and filled with life changing lessons. I learnt a lot thru the experience and hope to still be able to learn some more thru the year ahead. It was mentally and emotionally challenging but over very quickly. There where some tough times but the best times overshadow the 10 to 1. The learning and social experience cant be taken away and cannot be bought anywhere.
Feedback from Equite
Welcoming was truly an enriching and rewarding experience which I am truly grateful to have experienced. I met so many new people and really found my place in the Equité community. It was also wonderful being able to help newcomers settle into university life.
Feedback from Helshoogte
In one word - hectic ;)I honestly didn't think that welcoming during an international pandemic could be so much fun! I was expecting a considerably dumbed down experience when compared to ours but was happily surprised.I was also very glad to see that the mentors were treated as equals and part of the residence leadership structure apparently in the past this was not the case..I formed new friendships with the HK and fellow mentors during welcoming. Once the newcomers were moved into res in the first 2 days of welcoming we were especially busy we had assembly every morning on the tokkie at 6:45 and debriefing sessions until late in the evening. There were many more opportunities for skakels than originally expected our newcomers got to skakel with sonop nerina monica and a few others. Our culture evening at Monica this year was brilliant it was both entertaining and interesting without being too cringy. Halfbergklim was as expected one of the highlights of welcoming really awesome to experience it from the mentor point of view the pride and passion was almost palpable. Hempies and hoedjies was postponed this year due to many newcomers not exhibiting the necessary values (going out before bergklim and practising high-risk behaviour). I was rescheduled to Friday and was an awesome success despite some glitches along the way. Floorday as the last event before the academic year commenced was also very lekker great opportunity to bond with the 1st years and treat them to some good pizza and fun as a cherry on the cake for welcoming
Feedback from Erica
My experience of welcoming week was phenomenal and I say that because it was both full of positives but also had some slightly negative aspects. The reason these don't deter and actually added to the experience was because I learned so much from them. Welcoming was a time where I felt challenged as a mentor emotionally mentally and physically; but also emboldened: what I mean by this is that there where moments where I really felt confident in my abilities and that my decision to try for mentor was not ill placed. I found that I really enjoyed preparing for the sessions and learning from them. The daily reflections actually really helped with this. My experience is that the mentor sessions really became a place where we could have focused discussions but also just general conversations. There were moments where I felt that I wasn't equipped to help me mentees. Going from 5 to now 10 mentees seemed daunting but looking back I would not want to change anything. Welcoming week as a mentor is something I will cherish with me forever. As much as I hope I helped my mentees they probably don't know how much they helped me- because this week was really a time where I grew.
Feedback from Serruria
It was very exhausting but also very exciting. It was so nice to meet all of the newcomers and the other girls in res. There was some stressful situations that we had to handle during welcoming but we as mentors worked well together as a team. My overall experience wasn't always great and I was quite stressed but as welcoming came to an end I enjoyed it very much.
Feedback from Olympus
It was good. Was a difficult time due to the pandemic and the toll that took on the mentees both physically and psychologically but overall a positive experience that I think we all enjoyed
Feedback from Vesta
It was everything I expected and much more. Both in terms of the challenges and growth I personally would experience. I learnt to connect with people in a whole new way not just my mentees and mentors but the entire welcoming community. I was challenged both physically and mentally as days become long and hard depending on the tasks at hand but through this I felt my perseverance growth and show. All in all I can proudly say I feel this was a fantastic welcoming giving the circumstances and my team and I became bonded on a whole new charismatic level.
Feedback from Oude Molen
I was skeptical of welcoming this year with covid and I still don't think it was the best idea. None the less I really enjoyed it compared to last year as I was given mentees in my own faculty which made things a lot easier & conversations were easier to start & sustain. I also really enjoyed how 90% of my mentees continued to stay throughout welcoming which made me feel as if I was doing a good job. I felt I was friendly sincere and helpful throughout welcoming.
Feedback from Simonsberg
With specific regards to Vensters welcoming was a very good opportunity to see and understand the varying characters within the group of newcomers. It was clear that the newcomers enjoyed the experience even in a year in which a normal event could not be held.
Feedback from Simonsberg
elcoming was an interesting and nice experience. Although I was tired I could appreciate getting to know the individuals and learning from everyone. I also learned how to think quick on my feet. Things always took a turn of events due to the amount of students attending or venues it was enjoyable to learn how to be flexible in that case.It was also nice to learn professionalism within a friend group and know what's appropriate and to not take things to heart.
Feedback from Aristea
My experience during welcoming was definitely something I will remember for the rest of my live. I got to meet a lot of new people and also went beyond my comfort zone which was very nice because I know I am now a more skilled developed person than I was before the welcoming.
Feedback from Equite
Welcoming was a blast it was exciting to see my mentees and learn lots about them. It was however more exciting to see them open up and go from shy and nervous on the first day to being fully themselves on the last. It was wonderful to see them grow and become more comfortable around each other despite Covid-19. (They definitely worked on the social skills that they had lost during lockdown)Welcoming came together like a well oiled wheel. It ran smoothly and there was no drama. I thoroughly enjoyed welcoming and wold do it again.
Feedback from Huis Franci van Zijl
Welcoming was a wonderful period where we accomplished a lot despite all the restrictions thrown in our way. These newcomers are eager to learn and to engage with people on campus. They are still very confused but within the normal realm (especially on this campus - Tygerberg).The only shortcoming of Welcoming was the lack of social interaction our campus is already extremely isolated and it's important to socialize the newcomers from the start to show them the healthy aspect of social wellbeing in overall wellness.
Feedback from Equite
Welcoming at first was a very daunting experience because I was nervous to meet my mentees and wondered whether they would like me or not. However once we met in the circle and introduced ourselves I felt my nerves settle and I was able to take control of my emotions to calm down. I also quickly realised that my group of mentees was a cheerful welcoming and friendly group of people which was a nice thing to see. On their own they welcomed each other and conversation was flowing quickly. This aided me as a mentor as I got the sense that that everyone was being welcomed and feeling comfortable. I also helped in this regard seeing that some of mentees were shy and having one-on-one conversations with them. I am glad to say that this welcoming energy was sustained throughout most of welcoming. When observing my mentees it was nice to see them in a group creating conversation with one another as well as other newcomers. As a mentor this was nice to see because it meant that my mentees were starting to make friends and build connections with each other and the other people around them. I told them that making connections was important especially with your fellow engineering students. Through this they would build a strong support system for their studies which would inevitably help them in the future. In my own words You never know who you will need the day before a test or exam. One of my favourite memories from Welcoming is the first day of Academic Welcoming Programme. As a group we met together at Vida Coffee Shop and walked to the Engineering building. At the Engineering building I took time to give them advice about what the Academic Programme entails and what the programme is trying to achieve in introducing them to their course of study. I told them to not be intimidated by the group around them and that none of these people are their competitors; they are their colleagues and friends. I told them to have grit and to believe in themselves because they are there for a reason and they are all smart enough to achieve their goals. Seeing them walk up the steps was a proud moment for me as it made me feel as if they were more reassured about themselves. The feedback from the session was also very positive. My mentees thanked me for organising the session and said that it really helped them. Overall I felt that Welcoming was a good experience for me as a mentor. I made sure that I was readily available for my mentees at all times from anything from advice to admin issues. In addition besides welcoming I was able to help them with various aspects of university life including: campus tours textbooks places to eat shuttles and working around SUNLearn. I also made sure that I told them that they could message me any time and give me feedback on my sessions or my mentoring style. Overall the feedback I was given was very positive and they always thanked me for helping them. When asking if I was intimidating them they simply said that they needed
Feedback from Equite
My experience of welcoming was lovely. My favorite part of welcoming was meeting the Newcomers and getting to know my fellow Mentees and HC in a personal way and not just formally. It was amazing to see bonds forming between the Newcomers of Equite and the Leadership. With the early mornings busy days and late nights I started to feel drained physically and emotionally. During lockdown the amount of physical contact and conversation with people was minimal and therefore caused the welcoming conversations to be draining as no one was used to talking that much. The activities were planned so well according to the COVID-19 protocols and were still so enjoyable. Going into the welcoming I was unsure of what to expect and only having a rough idea of what it would be like was definitely nerve-wrecking. Towards the end of the first day of welcoming all the uncertainty was gone and I loved every moment of it.
Feedback from Equite
I really enjoyed welcoming more than I thought I would. I was very stressed (yet very excited) to meet all the newcomers but we quickly became good friends. I really tried to make all the newcomers feel at home and safe. I was really privileged to get such an involved and ready for anything kind of group. I could see that some of then were a bit shy at first but they quickly warmed up to me that meant a lot to me. I really enjoyed my mentoring session with my mentees. We talked about casual stuff some deep stuff and just university life in general. The activities were so fun and we bonded through all of them. I really see myself being life long friends with some of the newcomers. I loved the fact that they asked questions I think that was my favorite part because I felt so needed when they came to me for guidance and I don't know but it gave me a sense of purpose. Not only did I connect with my mentees I also connected with the other mentors and that was so nice. We shared a lot of similar problems and stress in our lives and that made me feel like a unity. I also got to know the other mentor's mentees. I could clearly see a difference from this year's newcomers and last year's newcomers. Due to COVID they where more in their shell and kind of scared at first which is totally understandable because they were living in a bubble for a year. But I really tried my best to make them feel more comfortable. Welcoming was really a time that I will never forget and I will cherish those moments and memories forever.
Feedback from Aurora
Welcoming was very chaotic and tiring at times and a bit anxiety driven with covid looming over our heads. However it was a very enjoyable experience and I learnt a lot about my self and my abilities as a person. I feel like after being home for months being around people again really filled me with a lot of joy and excitement and it was something I really needed to do for myself. I also got to meet some really nice people that I have become friends with that I think could be long term friendships. My mentees were very enthusiastic about the law which really sparked my enthusiasm for it again and has motivated me to want to really work on myself. I enjoyed talking with the mentees and being there to help with their transition even if not all of them showed up everyday or if I never saw them again after day 1. It was really useful to have the Be well sessions already pretty planned for you so that you had something to talk to the mentees about during the mentor sessions and the be well sessions were well suited to how the mentees were feeling/ would be feeling in week 1 so that it would give them some useful skills to help in dealing with week 1 once they got there. So they could essentially mentally prepare which was pretty cool. Taking them around the campus really made me feel like a 1st year again and it put me in their shoes to feel how they must feeling and seeing the campus through fresh eyes. I have a lot of love for this campus and what it can provide and I hope that I can continue to help and support my mentees for the rest of the year.
Feedback from Equite
I had the most amazing time. And l got to learn and grow so much. You'd think that difference repels people... but it just brought us close. Am grateful for my mentor group and my mentoring group :)
Feedback from Equite
I had the most amazing time. And l got to learn and grow so much. You'd think that difference repels people... but it just brought us close. Am grateful for my mentor group and my mentoring group :)
Feedback from Equite
My experience of welcoming was not what I expected due the Covid-19 Policies that were implemented to ensure a safe welcoming. I really enjoyed this welcoming more than my own welcoming experience in my first year but I think that is because I was able to connect with my mentees and help them adjust into their new university lives. Those two weeks of welcoming were busy but filled with practical activities to help a newcomer adjust. Each day I was excited for all the different activities that Equité had planned. Although as the days went by and some of my mentees wouldn't show up for the activities I still tried to make it such an exciting and enriching experience for the ones who came. My overall experience of welcoming was enriching as I learned many skills that have helped me improve my people's skills as well as working with other people. Two of the biggest for me that stood out was communication as I was able to voice my opinion and have the leadership hear what I have to say even if it was not used. I was also able to communicate to the other leaders if I was struggling to keep up with the tasks at hand which really helped get a few of admin stuff of my hands. It had been a while since I had worked in a leadership team so collaborating with everyone was exciting but tough occasionally as I would personally done some things differently but I always tried to be opened minded as to why things were agreed on. I really enjoyed my welcoming experience and I would do it again.
Feedback from Erica
Welcoming week was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions. This week consisted of a lot of laughs tears power naps an extreme amount of walking and definitely plenty of fun. Going into Welcoming I was not quite sure what to expect. The nerves definitely got to me leading up to the newcomers move in day. I was worried that they wouldn't like me or that they wouldn't want to confide in me. On the other hand I was so excited to experience Welcoming Week from a different perspective and wanted to try and make it as special for my mentees as it was for me. Move in day was extremely overwhelming for me. I knew that I had to exude a positive compassionate and friendly attitude as it is essential for connecting with your mentees from the very beginning. My 3 mentees that moved in don't have the same home language as myself and I was scared that I wouldn't be able to communicate with them properly. I was also seriously anxious that the language barrier would restrict the connection and bond that we would form. Over the week we all grew to know each other really well and they all made a concerted effort to talk to me in my home language English. I became more comfortable being my true self and felt confident enough to open up to my mentees and tell them more personal information about myself. Fortunately they reciprocated the feelings and I was able to learn so much about their backgrounds and upbringings. I think we all grew to look forwards to our chats at the end of a long day. I received two new mentees during Welcoming Week and my other mentees welcomed them into our group with open arms. I was seriously impressed with all of my mentees and their overall enthusiasm. They are a bunch of high-spirited girls willing to listen and learn. Their participation in the Welcoming Week exceeded all my expectations and made me incredibly proud. They were all so eager to get involved and meet new people. This week had its highs and lows but the highs definitely outweighed the lows. I will cherish all these beautiful special moments for the rest of my life. This was such an amazing opportunity to develop lasting relationships with the other mentors and house committee members as well as start the meaningful relationships with my mentees that will hopefully only continue to get stronger moving forward.
Feedback from Serruria
I thought Welcoming was an amazing experience to be apart of. To help the newcomers adjust and watch how they start to feel at home in a residence was really wonderful. Along with building a friendship and bond with fellow mentors really made the whole experience. It was a tiring period but it was really rewarding to be apart of.
Feedback from Venustia
Welcoming was a whirlwind experience. Both pre-welcoming and welcoming was a beneficial experience that I will always cherish. The first great thing to happen was the bonding experience between the mentors and HK of Vensutia. We all spoke about our highs and lows and honestly the greatest thing that I took away was that we truly never know what people are going through. The next highlight of my welcoming was bonding with the rest of the mentor team. I became best friends with a few of the girls and honestly I'm so glad I became a mentor.The welcoming period was certainly one for the books. The biggest fear I had going in was that I wouldn't be able to get along with my mentees due to us not having our degrees in common. However I was surprised at how easy it was to find common ground with them. Some of my highlights was when I did the highs and lows game with them and I saw my mentees open up to me. It made me happy knowing that I could provide a safe environment for them. There were many activities where I needed to take the lead such as playing mafia or walking the mentees to the societies fair/ 2021 picture. I realized that I thoroughly enjoy having responsibility and that this made me thing of whether or not I'd want to be apart of the HK team. All in all I enjoyed welcoming and I enjoyed creating a great atmosphere for the first years. It was sad knowing how different welcoming was due to covid but I'm still glad that they got to experience some sort of welcoming.
Feedback from Erica
My experience of Welcoming was that it was an extreme amount of fun combined with an extreme amount of lessons learned. I thoroughly enjoyed Welcoming week since it was the last one I could participate in. I also really loved the week before Welcoming where we prepared the res and ourselves for the first-years' arrival. Our relationship as fellow mentors grew especially close during this time.The arrival of the first years on the first day of Welcoming was a definite highlight. It was amazing to finally meet my mentees! I had to move out of my comfort zone a little bit to make them feel welcome because I can be a bit shy at first. Welcoming in 2021 was definitely different but still effective. Socials were scarce but the few we had where utterly enjoyed. I think the first years appreciated the fact that they could still do Vensters and they gave their all! The critical engagement sessions were very necessary and educational. They were always a hot topic of conversation in our mentor sessions. The activities that the HK arranged for us were also so well thought through and I (and I am sure the first years did too!) loved participating in them.The mentor sessions that we had during Welcoming were vital - in terms of informing and bonding. We had some of the best bonding times during our mentor sessions especially during times of being vulnerable. I sometimes found myself talking to my mentees about things important mental health topics that I had not discussed with other people before. I wished we could have even more mentor sessions during Welcoming. It was incredible to see how my mentees grew during that short period of Welcoming. Some of them made amazing friends in a snapshot while others were extremely shy and withdrawn at the start and grew to be comfortable and themselves by the end of it. I could literally see them growing as people right before my eyes. I also feel like the first-year group as a whole bonded really well this year and I think this might be owing to the fact that we didn't have many socials with other residences and had lots of socials within Erica. I feel like I also made a lot of new friends out of the newcomers. I think I also grew so much during this Welcoming period. There were lots of times where I had to push through the tiredness and still give my all. There were times where I had to be patient and there were many times where I could feel myself becoming a more empathetic person.I was devastated to have to let two of my mentees go by the end of Welcoming. They had received the opportunity to move to the Tygerberg campus. I still kept in touch with them and it seems like they are flourishing over there which I am thankful for. We (our whole mentor group) miss them a lot though!Naturally I can't talk about Welcoming without mentioning the immense role that my fellow mentors and our head mentor played during that time. Support actually doesn't even begin to describe it. They were there for me 24/7. I could as
Feedback from Serruria
Welcoming was a difficult period in that we were having issues with leadership. I started off a mentor in welcoming and welcoming ended with me being head mentor.
Feedback from Serruria
Welcoming was very busy but also alot of fun! There were some stresfull times and difficult situations we had to handle during welcoming week. But i learned alot about myself and others. It was alot of fun meeting all of the newcomers and bonding with the people in res.
Feedback from Helshoogte
Welcoming was a different experience this year due to the impact of Covid. Having been involved in two welcoming programmes it was clear that Covid definitely put a dampener on welcoming and what could be done during that time.Overall welcoming was a good experience despite the difficulties presented by the circumstances it was successful and enjoyed by all.The first years were very enthusiastic and excited to be in a new environment. We received a large number of first years and that made things trickier in order to adhere to Covid protocols and thus we split most if not all activities into two groups. This meant a little cohesion and cloesness within the group was lost but we managed non-the-less and looking at the group now it doesn't seem to have had a negative impact on them.This welcoming period will always be remembered as the Covid welcoming period but it is a testament to ourselves and the University that all/most of the events were still held even if slightly different due to the circumstances. Even in unprecedented times we tried to keep things the same so that the newcomers could have the best experience possible and I think we exceeded expectations.
Feedback from Venustia
Welcoming was a rewarding but strange time. This was my third welcoming in a leadership position. From a personal perspective I am currently in my honours year so I had classes running alongside the welcoming period. This was exceptionally stressful and left me feeling very tired. However the welcoming programme was such fun and so inclusive that it felt amazing to rush from a presentation back to the newcomers. I thoroughly enjoyed this welcoming although the pandemic made our interactions slightly harder to orchestrate.
Feedback from Huis Franci van Zijl
Welcoming was an amazing experience. Our residence was filled with so much laughter and sparkly faces eager to start this new journey. It was so lovely being part of this journey with the newcomers. All though is was so difficult to remember about 80 girls' names it was amazing to get to know them. Spending time with the newcomers I learnt quite a lot about myself and my journey. It was a nice reminder of why I am here and what it took for me to get here AND THAT THE FUTURE IS AS BRIGHT AS EVER! And I enjoyed it so much which reminded me of why I was chosen to fill the position.
Feedback from Eendrag
Welcoming was tough with the COVID regulations in place. There was the constant worry of making sure that all regulations were followed. There was not a single confirmed case though so the regulations did have a positive affect. I think the newcomers felt very welcome in the residence but were just tired from all of the activities that the welcoming managers had them do.I think it was successful overall.
Feedback from Capri
Welcoming week was very intense on a physical and emotional level. We really had to dig deep and keep the newcomers wanting to engage. We had some struggles and disagreements along the way but we solved all the issues and unforeseen circumstances and we ended up being a closer stronger team at the end. From what I could see the newcomers really enjoyed welcoming week so I would say it was a big success and I am looking forward to the next one and hope to be part of it again.
Feedback from Helshoogte
For someone who couldn't attend their own orientation it an opportunity to relive that moment and appreciate it. I have come to understand the different backgrounds and the cultural diversity in the group and I can only hope to learn more from this group.
Feedback from Equite
I enjoyed welcoming so much and got to meet a lot of newcomers who were excited to start their university journey. It was also very tiring because of all the necessary things I needed to do as a mentor. I got to witness all the behind the scenes of welcoming and it was a wonderful experience because everyone involved was so dedicated.
Feedback from Equite
I had a very positive experience with welcoming. My mentees and I clicked very well and fast. Our bond started to grow quickly and they all became good friends very fast. Although the welcoming period was very exhausting I still had a blast. As much as the mentees learned from us as mentors so did I as mentor learn so much from them. At some point I was unsure about what we had to do as the program was a bit confusing. There as a big gap between the activities and the students that came from far away had to go home due to transportation issues. Overall my experience of Welcoming was very good and we all had such a blast.
Feedback from Helshoogte
It was amazing but tiring as we got to watch as the newcomers become full-fledged members of the Helshoogte family while showing them the different aspects of our residence.
Feedback from Nerina
Welcoming was an absolute whirlwind of emotional highs lows and everything in between! I don't think I've ever cried as much as I did during that week- tears not necessarily of sadness but tears of joy fulfilment tiredness/exhaustion too. To take on the role of mentor to five different individuals and to hear each of their 'stories' of what has shaped them into the people sitting in front of me in that moment was no small task. It was an eye-opening experience hearing what some of them have had to endure thus far- things which no 18 year old should ever have to go through nor still deal with- and it made me realise how truly blessed I am in my life and how much I have been afforded and sheltered. It taught me how we can absolutely NEVER judge a person (or their actions) just off face-value and how powerful it can be to be to someone simply an ear to listen. It was through this experience of Welcoming that I fully realised just how much other peoples' pain/ emotions affect me personally. I tend to put myself in their shoes in order to sympathise with them as much as possible and whilst I believe this is still one of my greatest strengths (my ability to sympathise with someone) it has the potential to be one of my weaknesses too as I need to accept that I cannot make every thing better for every one. Being on the other side of Welcoming allowed me to gain so much perspective and gratitude for all that goes into planning and executing it too why certain things are done and what the objective of the different aspects of Welcoming are; it allowed me to make so many new friends pushed me outside of my comfort zone and stretched me in ways which I never would have been stretched if I was not afforded such an incredible experience.
Feedback from Sonop
I thoroughly enjoyed Welcoming. It was great to finally meet my mentees and be able to support them during that exciting time in their lives. I also immensely enjoyed spending time with my mentoring team. I have learned so much from my fellow mentors.During Welcoming I got a real sense of what servant leadership means. There were times where I knew I had to make small sacrifices for the sake of not only my mentees but also other first years and my fellow mentors. However I realised how rewarding it was to see the fruits of those sacrifices. There were also some moments where I was placed in uncomfortable positions - for example in situations where I felt that someone was directly attacking my worldview my faith in God and some of my conservative beliefs. However I'm glad that I experienced those moments because they have helped me to grow.All in all Welcoming was a fun and rewarding experience.
Feedback from Nemesia
Welcoming was such a wonderful experience especially since I didn't have a proper first year myself as a 2020 first year it was amazing to experience welcoming again but from the wrspecrive of a leader and a mentor.I loved watching my mentees grow over the 2 weeks and fall in love with Nemesia and Stellenbosch University like I did. And it was especially wonderful and rewarding to play a part in their journey and to make them happy and comfortable in their new environment. I can't wait to see how they continue to grow and progressas the year goes on.
Feedback from Nemesia
I love welcoming. This includes working with my mentor team and creating good relationships with the members. This also includes creating valuable relationships with newcomers. this period is important to make the newcomers feel part of Nemesia and I think we accomplished that. Many of the Newcomers were tired at the end of the day but during mentor sessions and alone times they were still excited about the activities they did and the overall experience. This is the best feeling for me to know that newcomers feel welcome and that they know they belong in Nemesia.
Feedback from Nemesia
I believe the first went well especially when considering the fact that we are living & studying during a pandemic. Everything was new and different for my mentee's upon arrival but I am lucky to have breen prepared on how to help them feel safe and welcomed. They had to adjust to living in res having a roommate and doing classes online. Balancing all of this and still managing a social life can be a difficult task but they definitely succeeded. There were definitely more difficult times especially when regarding academics which is plenty different from school. I also feel positive about the first term. I made good connections with my Mentee's and I've loved getting to know them thus far. Having a mentoring session is even considered therapeutic for me. We chat about life & how to get through it all and it's so beneficial! I do believe the late newcomer's could be welcomed in a better fashion. It must be very difficult to only get into residence after welcoming week we as mentor's must make a greater effort to make sure they feel safe.
Feedback from Nemesia
I really enjoyed welcoming.I feel that all my mentees adjusted really well to the res and made friends quickly.I also think it helps that they are a smaller group therefore they can get to know each other more on a personal level. There were times that I did have to help them with certain things but no one had any serious adjustment problems.The activities that were organised by the HC were also extremely fun and I could see the first years really enjoyed them.I struggled with the fact that not all of the first years came at once and that there were individuals moving in throughout the welcoming process. It was then difficult to integrate them into the rest of the group however eventually after a few mentoring sessions they all became friends.
Feedback from Osler
Welcoming was extremely fun and enjoyable. I had a wonderful time meeting all of my mentees and getting to know my fellow mentors better especially since it was the first time a lot of us had seen each other since lockdown began. I liked the Welcoming program because I think it allowed for a lot of interactions which I enjoyed. We had a lot of opportunities to get to know our mentors better and a lot of the activities were group-orientated which allowed the mentees to get to know each other better as classmates. I also enjoyed the smaller group discussions that were organized because they allowed the mentors to make meaningful connections with their mentees. I got to know a lot about my mentees in a short few days because of the individual group sessions. The emphasis on socializing was really good because I think a lot of my mentors were worried about not knowing anyone at university but the Welcoming program really accommodated the mentees meeting as many of their classmates as possible.
Feedback from Nemesia
I really enjoyed the whole welcoming period. Before the mentees arrived I got time to get to know the other mentors. I got to know them all very well and we did many things together like walking around on campus coffee dates movie night and going to the beach. During welcoming I got a chance to plan and partake in many different activities. I got to know my mentees and spent a lot of time with them. I loved having mentor sessions as it gave me a opportunity to connect with them and hear how they are experiencing welcoming. I loved seeing how they were able to climb out of their shells and make friends. Overall I enjoyed the experience and learned a lot from it.
Feedback from Equite
Welcoming is one of the greatest experiences as a student leader. It challenged me in many ways and definitely helped me grow as a leader and expand my skill set especially my communication skills and self awareness. It was a busy and tiring experience but a good busy and tired. The type that makes you feels so good and proud for being a part of something that is so special and important and helping reach other people that you want to do it all again. I was really challenged by my mentees to be as inclusive and responsible especially with language personality type and energy. It was difficult getting all of them involved at first but after learning and noticing who they are and how they operate you become sensitive to the way they operate and you realise how to get them as involved as possible. All in all it was a good experience the best experience. I have learnt so much about myself and other people and I know my mentees really did benefit from the experience.
Feedback from Serruria
It was an incredible period I enjoyed myself and enjoyed meeting my section and academic mentees. It was a period of stepping out of our comfort zones opening up to new experiences and getting to know people. It was a positive experience for all of my section mentees and my academic mentees felt informed and encouraged to start their journey in their faculties. Welcoming week was a period of growth for myself I felt like it really pushed me to embrace my individuality and to inspire my mentees to do it as well. It was so wonderful seeing my mentees and myself connect with all our different personalities and feel love and genuine interest not judgement. I'm very grateful for the experience of welcoming week it was an unforgettable time and I made memories that will last me a life time formed new friendships and learnt so much about myself and made myself proud for the hard work and all the time I put into my role as a mentor.
Feedback from Equite
It was a great experience I grew and learned very much
Feedback from Eendrag
I had a good experience of welcoming However, this reflection is done long after welcoming, at the end of the semester
Feedback from Equite
I had an amazing time at welcoming It was a lot of work but i enjoyed every single moment of it Had a great time interacting with my mentees and got to know them The welcoming programme was exceptionally planned out by the Hc so everything flowed accordingly
Feedback from Heemstede
My experience of welcoming was that it was very draining, but rewarding It was fast-paced and packed, but it forced certain bonds which I believe made it worthwhile
Feedback from Equite
My experience in Welcoming period had many ups and downs In my head I had a certain idea of how a bond will form between my newcomers and I, just like it did with me and my mentor in my first year Even though I feel that I had succeeded in my role as a mentor by equipping my newcomers with the necessary tools to be able to survive student life and making them feel like they are not alone in this new journey, they somehow still got very distant with me and through the course of the Welcoming period started fading from events I tried my best to get them all to the events, but some just didn't want to pitch With this, I had to learn a valuable lesson - I can not control what others do and decide I had to realize that this was not something that was meant to be taken up personally, no, but rather I sign of them finding their own routines and spaces within the PSO and University communities, which was inevitably exactly what I wanted for them to have Most of Welcoming period's schedule worked out perfectly, with a few last minute changes, but nothing major For me personally, even though Welcoming period was very fun and it was so great to be able to be back on campus and see everyone, the early mornings and late nights and having to work extra hard to keep everything intackt with my own personal life and routines was very tiring This is something that I know I was not the only one to experience, but luckily for me I had a very supportive team structure who picked me up when it was needed and visa versa
Feedback from Metanoia
Welcoming week was such a wonderful experience for me Welcoming week for a newcomer is a very important, exciting and new experience It is a crucial time in welcoming the mentees to the university and essentially preparing them for they journey ahead Experiencing welcoming week as a newcomer , before Covid-19 was a very exciting and fun experience Experiencing welcoming week from the other side of the spectrum as a mentor was very different , exciting and challenging Being able to organise , plan , and walk through the journey of welcoming with the mentees has been a blast This experience has developed me in many ways and i have learned many new things Along the way i have made many new friends and memories I have also initiated valuable relationships with my mentees The aspect of welcoming-week that i found challenging was conducting welcoming week during the pandemic It was difficult to conduct a lot of activities whilst adhering to Covid restrictions, but we made it work Lastly , i would end off by saying that welcoming week was such a wonderful experiencing as a mentor I had lots of fun and would recommend becoming a mentor to anyone considering the position
Feedback from Nerina
Welcoming was one of my best experiences it was amazing to see how each first year came into our Residence with a mix of anxiety, excitement and nerves my mentees were definitely anxious yet surprisingly didn't have a lot of questions for me However, the more they got to know me and each other the questions started flowing and there were friendships being formed between them One of my highlights was watching all of them go to the faculty orientation together- walking in a small huddle of five people amongst 200 and I stood outside the faculty like a proud mom watching them go inside
Feedback from Metanoia
Welcoming was an incredibly exciting as well as an incredibly stressful time It was exciting to bond with the team of mentors and to welcome the newcomers in and to get to know them It was really amazing meeting and bonding with the mentor team as I had never met a lot of them before Welcoming The mentor team, although diverse, gelled and worked together quite well Some of our team highlights from Welcoming week included our mentor outings to the Neelsie or en route when we had free time as well as our banter on the mentor WhatsApp group that kept spirits high during a draining time period such as Welcoming week But, because this Welcoming week was so different from all other Welcoming weeks due to the pandemic, it was an extremely pressurizing time for us as mentors We had to fulfill the normal mentor duties of helping newcomers move in, taking them to academic programmes, facilitating and participating in Welcoming week activities and conducting mentoring sessions in addition to the added stress and pressure of ensuring that the newcomers were aware and following the COVID policy and the activities that were being held were compliant with COVID protocols Furthermore, we as the mentorship team (along with the HK and Madcomm) had to work extra hard to keep up the gees because the activities this year were somewhat limited and our opportunities to get the newcomers to bond with each other were somewhat limited by COVID protocols (ie social distancing, separating newcomers into separate venues to not exceed venue capacity etc) This added pressure caused my social battery to wear out really quickly and caused me to become short tempered quite quickly Thus, at times, I acted unkindly, out of frustration and anger and not as my true self towards fellow members of leadership which is not something I am proud of At times, because I was just utterly drained an exhausted, I did not participate in critical engagements, gees sessions etc as much as I probably should have and I felt in doing that I did not give as much of myself to the newcomers as was required which looking back made me struggle to bond with them a little at the start of this journey
Feedback from Metanoia
My experience of Welcoming with the mentor team was enjoyable yet surprising at the same time In the beginning, there were friendships cliques within the body which made it harder for people to join groups and form bonds within the team However, this was to be expected as having to form some type of relationships and getting to know each team member through a screen during lockdown was not easy or to be anticipated Although, having formed some type of friendships over the phone I don't think it prepared me enough for being in a room with every team member and feel like you know no one at all Being outside of Meta and in different surrounding really helped to ease the 'getting to know each other' phase and relationships quickly formed through our mentor outing Had this been sooner or rather before O-Week I think we would have presented a more united front during O-WeekThe main highlights of welcoming had to be the filming and practising of Vensters It was wonderful to watch and be a part of something that really ties O-Week all together It is also something that most first years look forward to during welcomingSome lows, had to be the burn out towards the end of O-week The super early morning and the late nights, with every day jam packed with activities with little to no time to catch a break Also having to constantly be happy, filled with hype and energy everyday definitely contributed to the tiredness towards the endBut overall memories were made, long-lasting friendships formed and fun was definitely had
Feedback from Metanoia
The Welcoming period was a time I thoroughly enjoyed It was an amazing experience to watch the Newcomers be introduced to the new chapter of their lives and being there to watch them develop new friendships It was pleasurable getting to know the newcomers and for me to develop bonds with my mentees Even though the Welcoming period was a tiring experience as a mentor, it was all worth it watching the newcomers enjoy themselves and seeing that all the effort that was put into Welcoming was delivering the results that the leadership had intended it did Additionally, the welcoming period was tiring on the newcomers but they said they still enjoyed the experience and everything they learned over the period, it was said to be a memorable experience for them
Feedback from Metanoia
The welcoming experience was a culmination of excitement and stress as well The excitement came from just working with the team and building personal relationships with them as we took this journey on together Moreover just watching my mentees settle in and warm up to me, as well as life in MetaHowever the stress did come in how much effort was actually required of me There was a degree of uncertainty with how things would unfold at times due to COVID continuous changing our schedules, but we all had to learn to take things as they came We had to put on a brave face, and try to keep the ball rollingAdditionally, it was just great to meet all the mentees and everyone during the process How we act under pressure, how we help one another and find humour out of the more tough situations Overall welcoming was a great experience
Feedback from Equite
The welcoming experience was definitely a unique one since the planning thereof was based around the COVID protocols and the planning that was done had to enforce the protocols - which was definitely a challenge since it is in one's nature to gravitate towards other individuals such as wanting to hug them or embrace them in any form when feeling comfortable or happy around them. During the whole Welcoming period we had to supervise the newcomers and their interactions to make sure that they were complying the all the protocols one-hundred percent of the time. It was certainly one of the biggest challenges. Our jobs as mentors were made easier by the helpful attitude of other leaders within the Equite community such as Senior's Committee House Committee and the Equite members who assisted with sanitation. At first I was extremely anxious as to what could expect from not only the Welcoming period as a whole but also what I could expect from my group of newcomers. I had this fear that I would not be capable of answering all of their questions or was not able to be of assistance to them whenever they needed me to be. Once the Welcoming period had started I definitely felt less anxious as I had a group of mentors around me who I knew supported me and who would assist me in any possible way I needed as well. Our head mentor prepared us well for the situations and scenarios that we possibly would encounter and shared her mentor experience with us. Once welcoming kicked-off and I got to meet my mentees my anxiety disappeared almost completely since I realize that they were just as nervous as what I was. The Welcoming period was truly successful and I was very pleased to see that my mentees formed bonds with one another furthermore I formed bonds with all of them as well. Some of the bonds were stronger than other's due to participation or lack thereof - it is always easier to formed a stronger bond with a mentee who participates more since you as a mentor see them more often. One thing I realized is that since all information was provided online as well most of my mentees became very independent in comparison to our mentee group last year since that did not have to rely on me as their mentee for any of their welcoming inquiries. Towards the end of welcoming the participation of the mentee group was based purely on willingness instead of obligation since most of the sessions were voluntary and optional. All-in-all the Welcoming period allowed not only the newcomers to grow and find their feet in the university setting but also allowed for us as a mentor group to grow closer together and allowed me to grow as an indivdual.
Feedback from Minerva
My welcoming experience was very enjoyable at the beginning I made great friends from my team and felt very supported by my head mentor. It was extremely tiring and getting up early in the morning and pretending I don't need 55 red bulls was extremely difficult. However welcoming week became extremely emotionally draining and at some point I even considered resigning because of the language inclusivity dilemma it was draining my mental health however I managed to pick myself up and do what I needed to do.
Feedback from Serruria
It was definitely a mixed experience. As a mentor team we had to have many discussions with our head mentor to sort out some issues however in the end it was all sorted out. I think this became very draining as we had to have many long meetings. On the flip side it was amazing to be able to help the newcomers and see them adapting to Residence life. I really enjoyed helping them and getting to know them. It was also a wonderful experience working with my mentor team and the HK. It was a busy time but it was amazing to experience welcoming in a different perspective and still have it even though it was different due to Covid.
Feedback from Nemesia
Welcoming with my team was a lot of fun but it did prove challenging. My team of mentors definitely worked well with each other and the House Committee. I really enjoyed meeting the newcomers and getting to know them. Some of them didn't know what Vine was so it made me feel old but it was a god tool for bonding to teach them. My mentoring sessions were all right some of my girls took a while to open up and one of them is just really quiet in general. A big low for me was that I was not informed that two of my mentees have gluten and lactose intolerance so I bought them some Welcome treats not knowing that they couldn't eat them. As for the mentor team we got along well. We could work together and make decisions as a group easily enough and my head mentor was always calm collected and attentive in meetings and decision-making. Since only she and one other mentor had been mentors before they took it upon themselves to teach the other six how it is done and share their wisdom. We did a session with the House Committee where they shared stories about their own mentors and pointed out what they did right and what they could have done better. These testimonies especially from people who are well aware of what goes into being House leadership were very helpful and definitely changed the way I went about mentoring.
Feedback from Nemesia
Welcoming was quite enjoyable as this is the first time we did things different because of Covid. It was interesting to see the innovative ideas to do things to avoid the contact or overcrowding the spaces. My highlight was the way the Dream walk was incorporated and the planting of flags instead having the everyone be at the Coetzenburg Stadium. As much as it was not the same as how it was done the previous years it was still fun to be a part of it for the first and for the safety of the students it had to be done like that. It was exciting to see how the newcomers were still very much happy to have done that and when I asked a few of them how they found it majority said it was definitely an experience they will never forget and that really made me happy because I am sure the planning and the thought process behind this was a very well planned one and it had a lot of effort put through. The way things were done differently really made me enjoy welcoming because I would not know what to expect etc. So overall the welcoming period was quite nice for me to experience and I had a good time with the team of mentors I was working with.
www.sun.ac.za/bewell