“It always seems impossible until it is done” - Nelson Mandela

A word about the forthcoming exams, my experiences as a columnist and most importantly - the words of appreciation for the support…

The first semester faded like clouds with all its ups and downs. Fortunately, you have undergone the second semester, but now remains this ‘task’ of writing the examinations. This is the time where verses like this, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) should not vacate your mind. Regardless of how low your DPs may be and the influence of other obstacles in light of the scripture quoted, I believe that in the forthcoming exams you will be the “head and not the tail”. In other words, you will succeed with ‘flying colours’ in your examinations depending on how you invest  your time. In addition, considering the gist of this column, understanding that you must live by principles and not preferences, and your relationship with and faith in God will make the latter a reality.  

The following motivations can help you to succeed in the fast-approaching exams:

 1. Do not forget where you come from (background), this calls for a critical reflection about your main reason of being here. If you come from an underprivileged background, this will influence your attitude towards the exams, your background will affect you to perceive the exams as the only route to break away from the poverty scourge that makes your family poor. 2. Excel where you are, so that you can be able to proceed to where you want to be. 3 Always remember where you are going (dream). 

(Julius Malema, 2016) puts point 2 and 3 eloquently when he says, “As long as you have an appointment with the future [care less about the situations or people that want to pull you down], you have to make it to the appointment with the future. Adapted from (Pastor Zondo’s, 2014), motivation session.

            There are various things that squander our time. So if you want to invest your time (with the exams in mind), rather than, spending it, please consider Stephen Covey’s time management grid

. Firstly, He says urgent and important things must be executed straightway (E.g. preparing for the exams during the study week). Secondly, he says for important but not urgent, you can decide when to execute them (E.g. Jogging - it is high time that you remove jogging from your day schedule. Maybe I should be soft on this since it is exam time please limit the time you engage in the activity in question or any activity that is not that important since it is exam time. 

Dr. Stephe R Covey' Time Management Grid

Thirdly, urgent not important must be delegated. For instance, when your friend invites you to watch a soccer match at 15h00pm, while you are preparing for the exams. You can politely respond with a grin, telling him that he should tell you the match results when he comes back. 

Lastly, not important not urgent things, must be dumped, says Covey. Friends, I am giving you a chance to select the things that you need to dump (I know you have one or two of them) … dump them because they are not adding value to your life!

     

 When I was a student of accounting in grade twelve, there was this accounting expect from the learning channel. After his lessons, he always said, “Always aim for the moon, even if you miss, you will land among the stars”. To-date, this quote has always been my philosophy affecting the different spheres of my life that I engage with. Towards the end of the 2015 academic year when I approached the editor of this issue to give an opportunity to share my work. She offered me a slot to write about spiritual affairs, when she told me the names of other columnists, I said “No! no! if you say ***** is part of this – no I can’t do it”. Lindelwa insisted that I join this initiative. Today when I look back, I am very surprised at my potential of writing texts that are commended by my column readers including people from different countries. Sincerely, I never thought that one day I would write pieces that a lauded. That is why I say, “It always seems impossible until it is done” like Mr. Nelson Mandela once said. My brother and sister, you also have a gift that God has given you to share with the world. Please ensure that you unleash your untapped potential before you depart for Heaven.

Writing is like breathing to me – So effortless! So natural! The inspiration to write at times caught up with me while studying, I thank God for such an experience. Another thing that interests me about my pieces is the fact that when I write, not only God inspires me to teach other people about certain topics through myself, I also learn from my work!

 I am profoundly grateful to The Catalyst Newsletter Team for the opportunity. I also share same sentiments to the people who have been assisting me as touching the affairs of editing and proofreading my pieces, these people are Noluthando Ndlovu and Khanyi Mbambo.

I am also grateful to everyone whom I have been interacting with (or reading their work) because at times the inspiration to write was a germination of seeds that were set into my heart - after insightful conversations with the following people (some of them were people who patted me on the back for my columns):

·         My mentors:  Prof Mgqwashu, Dr SSS Mhlunngu and Mr Mthembu.

·      Friends, fellow students and brothers in the Lord: Sboniso Luthuli, Benele Mvelase, Mxolisi Biyela, Mxolisi Dube, Mnqobi Makhanya, Sphamandla Msweli, Xola Mbambo, Aubrey Nyathi, George Kehdinga, David Adebiyi, William Dagogo, Peter Merisi, Ayeni Adeniyi, Lindokuhle Mhlongo, Sydwel Mkhwanazi, Zamani Mangweni, Banele Mathenjwa, Bongumusa Nzimande, Sphamandla Shabalala, Bongani Mndaweni, Sbonelo Khumalo Sthelo Magagula, Mluleko Ndawonde, Siphosethu Ndebele, Malibongwe Mbeje, Mandla Mweni, Nokubonga Hadebe, Nolwazi Sibisi, Nelisiwe Sithole, Lindelwa Tshabalala, Noluthando Ndlovu, Khanyi Mbambo, Nhlanhla Ngidi, Phakade Zulu, Mluleki Msomi, Thembelani Mkhwanazi, Nkululeko Sibiya, Yonela Gaba, Ntombikayise Mthethwa, Thulile Mthethwa, Mlungisi Madide, Syanda Bhengu and Nkonzo Yaka – to name but a few.

Thanks! Kea leboha! Ngiyabonga! Ndiyabulela Enkosi

We have made it fourth-year students; I wish I could take back times when some students called us Freshers – they scared us in different ways.  They made us consider the completion of our course as something that is ‘far-fetched’.  

Considering where we come from and our experiences as fourth years it is appropriate for us to say “It always seems impossible until it is done”.

What we have to do is to finish strong good people! “No one can go back and make a brand new start, however, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending”. Academically I urge us to make this quote a reality by achieving excellent grade or marks, to the that we call all be called as students who are the cream of the crop.

A picture we took in 2014 while completing an assignment as second years students

 If you are a 1^st , 2^nd or a 3rd-year student – this piece is for you as well. I see the light at the end of the tunnel – trust me before you know it you are going to be completing this course.

Remain blessed and always ensure that you are in good terms with the God Trinity and the commands of the Bible, our Constitution as the Kingdom of God citizens.

                                                                                            

My experience at the ‘Student Excellence Awards Ceremony'.

Let us learn what made ‘them' to be invited, to receive certificates the ‘Student Excellence Awards Ceremony' and equip ourselves to be part of the next ‘Student Excellence Awards Ceremony'. 

Congratulation! To all the people who were part of the prestigious event, that is, the "Student Excellence Awards Ceremony", which took place on the 6th of October 2016. Everything was special about that event. The room was filled with grins and ululation as the Professors, Doctors, Masters graduates who are part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal community walked on the red carpet. These are people who are the driving force towards making UKZN be one of the top university in the Republic of South Africa and abroad. While some of them simply occupied the seats by the podium – the other lecturers were tasked with calling out the names of the students. The students I just referred to did nothing much but they – proved that hard work really pays off!

The event commenced on a very high note. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Humanities Prof. Potgieter shared her words of wisdom that kept the crowd nodding heads in agreement. She said, "Successful people are people that take opportunities when presented to them". She really shook me when she said we are very fortunate to be university students. Our brothers and sisters who could not make it to higher education were affected by life chances, their context's surrounding including the element of hard working.  She said you must be strategic in all that you do, that is, live a balanced lifestyle. I could not agree more with the latter statement because some students perform below their potential. Mainly, due to lack of living a principled lifestyle. While some fail because they are copycats, that is, they try to be something they are not. They study like their friends only to find out that is not in a manner that is well-matched with who they are – what tragedy!

Her last quote that I managed to pen reads, "Your attitude determines your altitude".  When Prof said this, I was reminded of a 4th-year student by the name of Melusi Mthethwa. When Melusi was a grade 12 learner, he was told he cannot make it when it comes to mathematics. These messages came from other fellow learners who were commerce stream majors. These are the learners who considered mathematics to be a ‘thing' for science stream majors. This negatively affected Melusi because when he attempted to practice mathematics, he was often discouraged as he remembered the negative statements about mathematics. The statements that were continuously said to him by fellow learners (the commerce stream majors). Sadly, when the results were released Melusi scored below 30% as his final mark for mathematics. Simply, put he failed mathematics.

During the orientation of first-year students at the UKZN. Dr. Ntombela and Dr. Maharajh brought it into learners’ attention that if you did pass mathematics in high school you have no choice but to complete a mathematics module otherwise you will not get your degree after four years of studying. After he heard the information, about mathematics from the houses mouth. He sat down with his friend, reflected back, as touching the businesses on the what was the cause for them to fail mathematics in high school, pondering on the negativities about mathematics by fellow learners

Melusi and his friend Nhlanhla sat down and calculated the costs of failing the mathematics course as university students and discovered that they had no choice but to pass it, if not, they were going to be delayed for one year because of failing a mathematics course. No only that, their academic record was going to be negatively affected.

After some minutes contemplation Melusi then realised his mistakes. His attitude was what spoilt everything about mathematics. He realised that the attitude towards something determines your likelihood of succeeding on it. He made an oath to himself that in 2014 (as a second year student), he was going to make sure that he passes mathematics to prove the people who told him he cannot pass mathematics wrong. 

Melusi and Nhlanhla made up their minds that they were going to pass the mathematics module before they even commenced attending its lectures. They worked hard during the semester frequently consulting with the lecturer, practicing previous tests and exam papers… at the end of the first semester (they were second year students) when the final results were out Melusi aced a Merit Certificate on that mathematics module while Nhlanhla his friend also passed with flying colours. When I asked Melusi and Nhlanhla how did you do it guys? They said, "we changed our attitudes brother and that made us pass the maths they said we can't pass in high school – with flying colours.". Melusi and Nhlanhla proved that indeed "your attitude determines your altitude".

Therefore, to be part of the student excellence awards scheduled for next year, you must live a principled life. Daniel is one individual you might want to imitate in order to ace it academically. He was a principled man. Even though the King had said that the people in Babylon for the next 30 days were supposed to pray to him lest they are thrown into the lion's den (See Daniel 6: 1-28). That decree did not move Daniel instead "Now when [he] learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before" (Daniel 6:10).

His situation did not affect his principles. Successful people in life are people who live by principles and not by any means by preference.  God made Daniel be successful - when thrown into the lions' den, the lions did not eat him. God can also help you to be successful only if you live by principles. To ace it in all spheres of life be a person who lives by principles. Remember! That our God is the God of principles!  

Furthermore, Mr Bheki Mthembu, a man who knows his story. He is my lecturer of English. During one of our lectures we had as English majors, he said: "You cannot infect someone with the disease you don't have".  In the same breath, the word of God says Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33).  We all at one stage have heard about this quote "Birds of the same feather flock together". The premise of the preceding statements is that if you want to be a merit student, cum laude or a summa cum laude you must rub shoulders with students who are towards that ‘path'.

David Adebayo, Nhlanhla Ngidi,  Mnqobi Makhanya, Lindokuhle Mhlongo, Benele Mvelase, Sboniso Luthuli, Noluhando Ndlovu, Busisiwe Mkhize, Anitha Msweli, Lindelwa Tshabalala, Melissa Croucamp and Nosipho Hlongwane are people that I am related to in one way or another.  And we all somehow have infected each other with the disease of being diligent when it comes to our school work – little wonder we collected certificates for excelling academically at the aforementioned event!

From Left : Mthobisi Thabana, Nhlanhla Ngidi, Lindokuhle Mhlongo and Sboniso Luthulu - a picture taken while they were at the "Student Excellence Awards Ceremony". 2016

The awards were about success, therefore; I consider it ideal to bring in the concept of success. "Success is not a comparison of what we have done with what others have done. Why? because you will always find someone less than you and better than you. Success is measured by what you have done compared with what you were supposed to do" (Myles Munroe). To all who were part of the event in question there is a room for improvement. This is in light of Dr. Munroe's quote – if you got an aggregate of just above 75% you must work towards closing the gap between 75% and 100%. If you were not invited to be part of the event in question by now I would like to believe that you know what to have to do in order to excel academically.  Scientists have proven that the average human uses about 10% of their brain. So in order for you to be a Professor you need to use about 15% of your brain. God is disappointed when He sees us jubilation over our academic victories because he knows our real potential. The LORD will make you the head, not the tail… (Deuteronomy 28:13). "[You] can do all things through Christ who strengthens [you]" (Phil 4:13) So get up and reach out for God's best for your life!

Remain blessed and always ensure that you are in good terms with the God Trinity and the commands of the Bible, our Constitution as the Kingdom of God citizens.

The Power of Imagination

By: SoniaBDorsey

“This column is credited to the Kingdom Citizen Sonia B Dorsey from the USA. I got to know her from her YouTube channel, after I kept on listening her reading books and commenting on them. I felt like she needed to share her experiences on a piece dedicated to the youths in the R.S.A. Hope you will learn from her good people” Mthobisi Thabana

Greetings! I hope all is well and you are doing great in your endeavors. You are doing great in your choices and are moving closer to your hopes and dreams every day.  If you will recall, we were discussing how to serve our gifts to this generation. We were having a conversation about how and what you can do now in order to share with the world, that thing, that God Almighty placed only inside of you. We stated that we need to decide. Our decisions have a profound impact on our lives. Everyday decisions bombard us. Our decisions dictate our lives. From the simplest ones to the greatest ones, over time, they impact our lives. Think about it. Something so simple as eating too much sugar or salt , over time, can be a detriment to your health. Something so simple as hanging out with people for a few hours, instead of studying, can become a detriment to our educational goals. Lastly, and probably, most importantly, not recognizing our talent and gifts, nurturing them to maturity, and serving them to our fellow man, can have a major detriment to our satisfaction in this lifetime.

I think for many of us, its that we don't consider the time element of decision making. I know for myself, I started really considering the time element because it relates to what I want to see happen in my lifetime. I bet if you think back over your life, you can recall that someone invested in you. Maybe it was encouragement, financial assistance, chastised (Hebrew 12:6), reminded you of your opportunity, whatever benefited you was God's way of investing in you. Even if at times, it was uncomfortable (Revleation 3:19), if in the end you benefited from it, it was His hand at work in your life. It's all to prepare you for your work, your service to your generation. Count your blessings! Now, let me tell you what that means. It means that you don't get to waste this opportunity. You are valuable and  your potential is needed for His name's sake. 

Once you have decided that you want to serve your gift to your generation, you have to sit down and write it out on paper. It's not enough to say to yourself, "I want to be the best cook, teacher, dancer, professor, lawyer, etc.," you name it, you have to sit down and write it out. Something happens when you put pen to paper. I don't know why that it is but it is. For me, when I sit down and write out things in my own handwriting, I feel more connected to our resources. So, sit down and write out your dreams, hope, and desires. When you write it down, or type it, this is where you get to imagine your future. Now, its to your benefit to imagine BIG! We serve a big God and guess what? The earth and everything in it belongs to Him. He desires to give you the desires of your heart. Dream big on paper! How do you know if your dream is inline with His purpose and plan for your life? In my experience, when my dreams are to better others and benefit others, I know that I am in line with what God desires for me. I feel really good about my successes and any thing that doesn't go according to my plan, is only a learning opportunity and there is knowledge to gain there. So, keep that in mind. Having your plans on paper, gives you the ability to keep notes (preferrably in one notebook) on what, who, when, where, and how...

 If you want to put God to the test in your life, write down your deepest, biggest dreams. I will tell you what happened to me when I did this many years ago. I actually still have the notebook as a testament to what God can do through one person. I wrote down what I wanted, when I wanted it, who I needed to network with, and the time frames I wanted to have it accomplished by. It would take a long time to read all that I wrote but let me say this: one of my desires (written down), was to write for a paper at the university level, but to make it most meaningful by encouraging men and women into their God given potential. Friend, God is good. Not only is He satisfying the gift in me, but He said, your gift will make room for you. It has been a pleasure to write for God and produce works with His guidance. When you pursue your gift, your God given talent, doors open for you... and where there is none, He creates one. This is called innovation. Some of us, it's that your gift/talent is to be at the forefront of creation for your generation. So don't take this part lightly...take the time, to sit down, and write. Think of it this way, this writing is to be akin to your success road map.

Remember success, like failure is calculated. Well, let me give you this also, not having a written plan, a written account of your hopes, dreams, desires, and wants, is like getting in a car to an unknown destination without a road map or a GPS enabled device. I don't know about you, but I do not like waste. Especially wasting time. Time is your greatest asset. Use it wisely. Imagine where you will be 2 years from now, 3 years from now, 5 years from now. For some of us, it's easy to imagine...so take the time and write out your strategy to get there. Take your mission, write it down and create a strategy to get there. In this manner, your time, your greatest asset, is that much closer to being spent wisely. For example, if you want to be the best teacher. Your writings should include the classes you will takein school, the tactics to make the best scores on assessments. Don't stop there. Write down what you will wear to graduation and who will be there to applaud your success.  Write down what kind of teacher you want to be, who you will network with, which schools you will want to work with, how your students will view you, imagine what your class will look like, write so descriptively that when you share this writing with someone, they will be able to visualize your classroom with its sky blue walls and learning paraphernalia. 

As much as I can, I write. Why? I love the feeling of accomplishment. You will feel most accomplished when you see what God enabled you to accomplish through being focused on your gifts and fine tuning your craft in such a way that only He will be able to get the glory at your success. Friend, at the fullness of time, when all things are in His order, He will complete the work He started in you. He will fulfill His purpose in your life. You will be usable for His purpose. I know many people who pray the prayer: Lord, use me. But, I believe God is like: use what? What did you do or have done that makes you usable. Think about it. When you do your part, He can do His. He said we were created in His image, in His likeness. He said, we would do greater works than Jesus. In our Father's Kingdom, all our gifts are used for His glory. In addition, since He is King of kings, why would we serve anything less than the best to any king.

Once you have decided on fine tuning your gift, sit down and write out your mission and how you will accomplish it in serving it to your generation. Use every bit of your imagination and dream big! Once you have it written down, it's ok to revisit it and make changes as you acquire knowledge and understanding of your talent. Have fun with this part! I am!

 God is waiting for an opportunity to answer what it is you desire (Psalm 37:4)!

Scripture references include: Purpose discovery: Proverbs 19:21; Focus Factor: Matthew 8:27; Life Mission Statements and Plans: Habakkuk 2:1-3; Increasing faith for better decisions: John 16:13. 

We are enough. I dare to share.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi2KFJuTHfDcqYarsfO6N1Q 

Access  Sonia’s work @ http://www.sonyadorsey.com/