The difference is in the 'umph!'

Guest blogger ...
Student intern Khanyisa Melwa

As the beginning of the academic year draws near, I’d like to extend my heartiest welcome to both the first year and senior students of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMM). Do you guys have the “umph” to make this a great year?

I’m sure words like “assignment” and “test” have become something of a distant memory to most of you, but don’t fret, academia is near!

You will have seen or heard that we, as a university, are celebrating our 10th year. Our 10th year as a new generation university since the coming together of three separate institutions, namely: The University of Port Elizabeth, PE Technikon and Vista University. With this in mind, it is important that we take stock of what it means to be an NMMU student in 2015.

Being a part of a comprehensive university such as NMMU is a privilege, one we should never take for granted. Here, we are afforded the opportunity to make a difference in society with courses that meet both immediate industry and societal needs.

As our namesake once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

How are you going to use your qualification to change the world?

Ponder on this.

Suffice to say that without goals, one is merely day-dreaming; wandering aimlessly in a fast-paced world of #Hashtags and selfies. I urge you to draw up a list of goals at the beginning of this academic year and be resolute in achieving these.

In the same breath, it would be incorrect in both logic and principle to speak about goals without any mention of excellence, as it is one of our institutional values. It only makes sense that we continually endeavour to live out each of our values – respect for diversity, excellence, Ubuntu, integrity, respect for the environment and taking responsibility.

A key NMMU value

It is also imperative that we strive for excellence in everything that we do; because that’s what gives us the competitive edge. That’s the difference between being good and being great, and fortunately, mediocrity is not in our DNA as Madibaz. That would be an indictment of Nelson Mandela’s character, the man whose name we so proudly carry.

So remember this fellow Madibaz, the difference between “try” and “triumph” is that little “umph”.