In a bundle of blankets, lying on her bed, watching the latest download off of DC++, Eva Masemola proudly professes that “there is nothing wrong with all-nighters”. Her room suggests that she has done just that; clothes are strewn haphazardly across the floor and the wrappers from midnight snacks poke out from various crevices – the typical image that comes to mind when you picture a Rhodent.
This bright-eyed, smiling girl, so comfortable in her surroundings, once struggled to adapt to life at Rhodes. “Before, I thought that the people here were crazy and that they dressed funny, but now I’ve gotten used to it. People do the weirdest things here,” she says thoughtfully. “At the same time, the people I interact with here are not so receptive to what one could call ‘weirdness’. People here are more conservative than people at home. For instance, if I went out in long, stripy socks, people at home would be like ‘Oh my gosh! Those are so cool!’ Here, they look at me as if to say ‘What the hell were you thinking?” she says.
Eva, a second-year* Bachelor of Science student, originally comes from Polokwane. With a job already lined up for after she graduates, Eva is a hardworking girl. An active volley ball player and member of the gym, Eva is well-equipped for her role as the Sports Representative for Hobson House. She is also a member of EastSocWestSoc and RocSoc. When she gets tired of looking at rocks, she goes out with her friends for some much needed, and deserved, fun. “I like the Rat and Equilibrium, not so much Friars, and, um...” she pauses, “what else can you do in Grahamstown?”
Two years has given Eva more than enough time to learn the do’s and don’ts of university life. “If you don’t go out you won’t experience anything, because no one here is going to drag you out,” she says seriously. She adds, “Time management is also essential. The workload moves fast and there is no time to chill.” Socially, Eva has no problems making friends. “The culture here makes it easy - people at Rhodes are very approachable. Well, most of them anyway,” she says with a grin.
Getting involved, whether academically or socially, is on top of Eva’s list for a smooth transition from high school to university life. “You can’t leave Rhodes without doing Festival,” she pauses, “you don’t ‘go’ to Festival. You do it!” For the less adventurous, Eva suggests taking a walk up to the Monument, going to a drum and bass party, having a drink at the Old Gaol or relaxing at Olde 65. “Something always happens at Oldies,” she says affectionately.
On the romantic side of things, it will come eventually. As Eva puts it, “The guys at Rhodes – first you look at them and think they are not that good looking, then you get used to their faces!” Giggling, she absentmindedly pushes her braids behind her shoulders.
See Eva's Facebook profile:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=561781198&ref=ts
*Although it was specified that a first-year student must be interviewed for this assignment, it would not have fitted in with our blog character and therefore I chose to interview a second-year student instead.
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this profile is of great quality, it is gripping and draws the reader. it provides an indepth view of the character interviewed. I specifically like the fact that the writer allows the interviewee to freely express herself and the interviewer adequately quotes the interviewee at the relevant places. this provides the reader with insight and a 'in-the-room-feeling'of the interview. there are points where improvement can take place but the over-all impression is that this was a well-written profile. Siviwe Gwarube
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