Wits University Student Repeated 1st Year for 5 Years, TikTok Video of Academic Struggles Moves SA
- One young lady on TikTok got candid about studying at university and the hardships she faced at Witwatersrand University (Wits University)
- The woman let people know that getting through her first year at Wits University was an arduous journey
- Briefly News spoke to Wits University's Career Development Services Team Leader and an educational psychologist from the University of Pretoria (UP) who shed light on coping at varsity
One young lady from Mpumalanga took to social media to give people a realistic look at being a university student after repeating her first year. Wits University's Career Development Educator and Career Development Services Team Leader, Lindelwe Cili, told Briefly News about the resources available to help first-year students who face challenges like the former Wits University student.
Source: UGC
The clip of the young lady sharing her academic struggles received lots of attention. There were hundreds of comments from others who could relate and the University of Pretoria educational psychologist of 40 years, Prof Kobus Maree, shared insights into surviving university with Briefly News.
Lady takes years to do 1st year at Wits Uni
In a TikTok video by @nelisa_ndj, Nelisa shared that it took her five years to finish her first year at Wits University. She explained that she was studying for a BSc in biology and passed two modules (Maths and Physics) but didn't achieve well in the others (Chemistry and Biology). Nelisa got low marks for the two modules, which meant she had to repeat the whole year and she did not pass Chemistry two more times. In an interview with Briefly News, an educational psychologist for four decades, Professor Kobus Maree, said students need to be in a "growth-orientated, positive and constructive environment" and should move from a failure-orientated mindset to one that encompasses long-term success and resilience. Prof Maree said:
PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News is now on YouTube! Check out our interviews on Briefly TV Life now!
"Let them see the course as a learning opportunity rather than something which ends in personal failure. The word failure has never existed in my vocabulary. I instruct everybody to never use that word in the academic environment. That is non-negotiable.”
Wits University's career development educator, Ms Cili also highlighted the importance of a growth mindset after high school. She said in a sitdown with Briefly News:
"Build resilience. It's no longer high school. So let us devise a plan in terms of how to tackle academics, study strategies, and interventions. This is a new space. That first test results might shock your system, especially if you've been a high achiever. It's always a space for you to reflect and be like, okay, what did I do wrong? What could I improve on so that you're able forward?"
In a display of tenacity, Nelisa did her first year for the third time in 2022 and took a break in 2023. She then moved to the University of Mpumalanga, where she eventually passed her first year. Prof Maree told Briefly News that facing difficulties in a course is not the end all and be all as demonstrated by Nelisa. The UP educational psychologist said it is important to seek help from support systems in the university early while practising self-compassion by taking things bit by bit. Speaking from his experience as an academic, Professor Maree described overcoming setbacks at university himself:
“One difficult semester or year will not, has not and cannot define a person’s future, quite the opposite. Many of us, including myself with three doctorates completing everything cum laude, have felt like ‘This is not good, I will not make it.'"
Watch the videos below of the lady's story about repeating her first year:
How does Wits University help 1st year students?
Many people applauded the young woman for not giving up. Others shared their own stories about how they had to keep going despite challenges in the first year. Speaking to Briefly News, Prof Maree referenced his experience of bringing hundreds of seriously disadvantaged students from Limpopo to the University of Pretoria with the help of the then Dean of Education at UP, Prof Jonathan Jansen in 2001. He learned that mentoring and peer support are very important, as well as access to mental health services which should be non-negotiable. According to Prof Maree, institutions should also employ adaptive learning trajectories, allowing students to spread their work over longer periods, supplementary sessions, and even alternative assessment methods.
Drawing from his experience, Prof Maree emphasised to Briefly News that there can never be one-size-fits-all advice for students. The most important is for students to realise they are not alone. He said:
“Every student deserves career construction/ life design counselling to draw on their own stories. Sadly, the majority of students with challenges inform me they did not know where to seek help."
Wits University career counsellor Ms Cili confirmed to Briefly News that the university offers first-year students support in the form of a two-week "Gateway to Success" orientation program which covers computer literacy, and faculty-specific academic advice. In addition, Wits University often markets the Counseling and Careers Development Unit (CCDU) to destigmatise seeking help with academics as well as assistance with mental health. Ms Cili encouraged students to make use of personal and group counselling and academic guidance:
"I'll make an example because we're speaking specifically about students who are struggling academically. We have workshops that run throughout the year but at specific targets. If it's closer to exams our interventions will speak to where students are. We'll have a last-push exam series of workshops specifically targeted at study strategies and time management before an exam."
Read comments on the former Wits University students and other varsity pupils below:
Source: Getty Images
Nolwazi said:
"This is my third time doing my first year."
Llissa✨️ the creator replied:
"Keep pushing sis 💪no matter how demotivating it becomes. Don't give up on yourself and also don't give up on the life you wanna have for yourself and your family. Also, celebrate the little wins❤️."
Blackwidow applauded:
"You passed physics and maths, I'm impressed."
Llissa✨️ the TikTokker responded:
"I was impressed myself. I actually thought these were the two modules I was gonna fail but it was vice versa 😅"
Christopher Audacious Ndawonde could relate:
"I feel seen🤣"
tshepi🌸 applauded:
"Now this is what we call perseverance 🥺❤️"
nosipho mbuyisa cheered:
"So proud of you stranger ❤️🥺"
TherryM@03 shared:
"Dropped out of forensic science last year doing my 2nd year. I'm 21 and I feel like I have to find myself first before doing another course."
ladyaqui added:
"Keep on pushing my baby gal ❤️🥰"
uMandisa Seme added:
"Proud of you sis💋❤️!"
Kimmtetwa admitted:
"I was able to do chemistry II while I repeated ILS (biology) at Wits."
4 Students who repeated school
- One pupil did not do well for matric and Briefly News reported on how she made the hard decision to get back to repeat the grade before.
- A Unisa student struggled for a decade to finish a simple module and he shared the challenges in detail.
- South Africans were touched after seeing a woman who repeated matric finally saw light at the end of the tunnel.
- Online users were moved by the story of a boy from Limpopo who tried to get past Grade 8 more than four times.
PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU - click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!
Source: Briefly News
