FourSeeing The Past

You may have spotted him in a JMS 1 lecture you may have even stood in line with him at the kaif, or you may have walked past as if he were a ghost, but whether or not you saw him is not the issue, Athenkosi Matyalana is 17 year old first year who would much rather you noticed his writing.

He is from Queenstown which is in the eastern cape so he hasn’t had to move to far from home to refine his writing skills and one day with the help of his improved knowledge and brilliant word play be on CNN or writing for the New York times “I want to be a war journalist, it just so exciting” ducking and diving bullets in a war zone is something that interests him and his description of himself as a “N***A” is his way of making sure that I understand that before anything he is proud black man who understands his history and the role it played in him being where he currently is, his out there to be a success, at an age like 17 Athenkosi is mature beyond his age and he has slotted in well to the tough academic and social life that exists in university, well maybe not quite so well, “my social life is KAK” he says with a look of disappointment on his face. “I really want to start going out more” this is a part of the life that is vital to most students and Athi feels the need to start making noise socially.

He is definitely doing well in the academic side of student life, he hit the ground running with the marks, passing well and managing to attend most of his lectures this year, “you have to attend lectures man”. One of his proudest moments was when he got accepted to Rhodes having attended Funda high school which is based in a small township in Queenstown, most of the students who are at Rhodes university are from predominantly wealthy, ‘classy’ schools he is aware of this but it is not an issue “I haven’t had a problem relating to the boys respect is the one thing we share in common” even with this he finds the other students a little on the touchy side “some of these guys are a bit soft” he says this describing some of his fellow students here at Rhodes “they are so sensitive” a clear indication of a life that has been lived in relatively humble conditions, even his dress sense is very easy going not over the top, he is a simple guy who just wants to get his degree and start expressing himself before doing this though he will need to survive his first year at Rhodes, he is done this by using the following survival tips