Candice Owen is one of the most interesting and likeable people I have met since I came to Rhodes this year. She looks and dresses like any 'alternative' person does; black hair, black clothes, and skulls and crossbones lining more than one of her items of clothing. Her long black hair hangs past her shoulders delicately, in such a way that her eyes, emphasised with mascara and eye-liner, stand out as the most distinguishable feature on her face. She talks with a very slight Afrikaans accent, an obvious pointer to her hometown, Kimberley. Her manner is cheerful, yet relaxed and she gives the impression that she doesn't care what other people think about her, which is an amazing attribute in any person. She is studying a Bachelor of Science, and plans on majoring in Zoology and Microbiology. "I am definitely an animal and nature person", she says, "anything to do with nature interests me and I really care about the environment and the things that live in it. I would do anything to help better the world we live in environmentally, and thats why I'm studying what I'm studying."
She talks, for the most part, positively on her first year at Rhodes. The best thing for her about being at Rhodes is the almost ultimate freedom she is granted as opposed to back home. "When I'm here I feel more independant and free than I ever do when I'm at home. I can make my own decisions and do pretty much what I want, while its a much different story when I'm at home". This sense of freedom is obviously a high point at Rhodes for any student but it seems that it is extremely important to Candice to be as independant as possible. "Its my first real taste of what its like in the real world, away from parents and teachers, and so far I'm loving it" she says. To her, Rhodes is a place where education comes first and socialisation comes second, but a very close one. Although academics is extremely important and is the main reason why she is here, she finds that meeting new people and interacting with people of different cultures, backgrounds and sanity levels. Places like the Rat and Parrot, The Gaol and The Kaif are perfect places for her to interact and observe the differences in people. "The Old Gaol is possibly the most interesting place I've been to before. I hang out there all the time as it is a melting pot of Rhodes cultural diversity. The people who go there are the counter-culture of Rhodes, and are by far some of the most intriguing and diverse at this university. It's an amazing place." Yet although she loves some aspects of Rhodes, there are some things that bother her such as the amount of substance abuse and the perception that to have a good time involves paying for it by suffering through a kamikaze hangover the next day. "Although I drink, so many students go overboard and just get smashed on a regular basis and act like total idiots."
Candice survived first year and it seems she did it in a distinguished, relaxed way. "I love this place, and look forward to continuing my studies here and having a good time", she says. If Rhodes is the ideal place for her to flourish, which it seems it is, she will undoubtedly continue to thrive here and enjoy the rest of her time at this university.
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In this profle, Candice clearly comes across as the hero. She is an alternative, yet hard-working student who has adapted well to the pressures of university life. She has remained true to herself by not “caring what other people think about her”.
Although she finds it difficult to deal with the substance abuse problem at Rhodes, she is able to reflect positively on her experience at university.
This story flows smoothly, loosely following Todorov’s model of narrative. Candice is in a stable state of being, born and raised in Kimberly. Then she moves to Grahamstown to begin her studies at Rhodes; a casual transformation from one state of being to another. Candice is happy and enjoys the freedom she has at university, i.e. she is in a state of equilibrium. The substance abuse and excessive drinking at Rhodes disturbs this state of harmony but Candice is able to overcome this by remaining true to herself. Thus, the state of equilibrium is reinstated.
Well-written!
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