The Road to Transformation

I attended the Community Engagement Discourse and Theory workshop. What an eye opener!? I attended hoping to hear about the actual theory that underlies Community Engagement. Typical Psychology-thinking me... Anyway, was taken aback by the facilitator, I suspected that was her as she walked into the room, she greeted, personally handshook each one of us. The concepts used were mostly Philosophical and quite abstract, but wow! they got me  thinking. She gave the presentation and then allowed us to "chat" about that. According to the presenter Dr. Catherine Odora-Hoppers, the workshop was aimed at understanding how when aware of a situation that needs change, we become the agents of that change. However, in an attempt to influence these changes, we need to be aware of the discourses that underlie individual consciousness and the structural determinants that abound us. She defined Violence on three levels,  Direct, structural and cultural violence. Therefore, as the agents of change we might find ourselves actually carrying processes that cloud the consequences of our actions. She reminded us to be real, to be human before we are discipline focused. To step out of our disciplines, and allow life to teach us how to go about being alive! To be aware that communities are formed by exclusions, and we must be very careful, who we exclude in the communities we approach. We are blinded by the understanding that we come to communities as experts, "Reaching out". Ultimately, we have the power to frame things, the power to change the way people think. We need to be aware that as individuals we hold the key to the door to strategic change. Now and again during the presentation, she reminded us to Breathe! This workshop was not just about Community engagement as expected on our IPMS, it was a lifeskills workshop which I'll take into my life as a whole, with every human interaction I face. How I summed up the presentation, "Be aware of your power, it is not about occupying a post!"

Road Trip Field Trip ...

Friday, 25th July was the day of the drive to North West University - Mafikeng Campus. My son slept over at my mom's house. As early as 4:15 hubby and I were up and about preparing for the day. By 5:20 we were around Sandton, and knowing my hubby too well... We started at church for travel blessings. Called my mentor, Angelo Fynn, with whom I was travelling only to find that he was stuck in traffic. Had early morning coffee at McD's, what a waste of money, that was ugly coffee :-( 6:30 the trek started, relying on the GPS to take us through, our journey started. This changes of town names, very interesting, where we found ourselves ensuring that Mafikeng is actually Mahikeng. Wanting to ensure the GPS is correct, realising that it's directing you away from Potchefstroom. A relief and a concern at the same. I mean, it meant moving further away on this lonely road filled with corn fields and just stretches of road (N14). Halfway stop at Ventersdorp - a real half way stop showing a further 2 hours of travel expected. We finally made it to Mafikeng and found the campus with no hassles. What a beautiful structure it is, new and clean; ordely. Found our way to the "Psychology department" - only to find that that was actually the Students Counselling Centre. The Association of Psychology students exec made of the PRO and secretaries came to welcome us. The Chairperson ms. Masedi and her deputy also came through and directed us to the actual hall where we set up banners and handed out PsySSA pamphlets to attendees. Most of the students who came through to the launch were second and third year undergraduate  Psychology students. It felt good to be amongst such passionate young people, focused and level headed students who know what they want out of life. Students who are willing to share their vision and invite others to assist them in ensuring that the vision is kept alive.The Head of the department, Dr. Botha opened the ceremony, Dr Setlogelo, Petro Erasmus and Meandi Erasmus were also part of the panel of experts from the School of Social Sciences and Psychology department.  Mr. Angelo Fynn was called to speak as the Chairperson of the Student division at PsySSA and he did a wonderful job. He commended the students, the team the executives for their team work and ensuring that the day was a success. He introduced PsySSA as a representative platform for students and advised them that the job of continuing the psychology profession  starts with each and everyone of them in the room. The day was wrapped with a meeting between us, as PsySSA representatives, the Association for Psychology students and Human Sciences students committee. The discussion was focused on the way forward, continuing the contact and collaborative efforts between PsySSA and the Association for Psychology Students. PsySSA and its trade union activities were outlined and ways to network and gain info and assistance from other university associations were identified. There was a request for more brochures to be left behind for the Psychology students and/ or more to be couriered to the campus. There was a promise from some of the students, for the conference attendance in Durban. It was a great "outing", but it is only the beginning, many more collaborative meetings still need to be held.

Going on a road trip :-)

I am going on an actual road trip tomorrow. *Bigsmile. My boss and I are driving to North West University Mafikeng Campus for a launch of the Association of Psychology Students. I can't wait. The invitation came as such an honour. Following the IPMS process where I was asking myself all sorts of questions, this comes at the right time. I had quite a morning: the growing up journey, *hidesfaceinhands... My son slept throughout the night, from around 6pm then woke up at 12:40 thinking it's daytime already. He wanted to play, go to gogos, eat.OMW! Anyway, I have learnt my lesson, no more allowing him to sleep through without a proper supper. and the Obz says I'm unfair on the child. REALLY!

Luggage

There is a bag that accompanies every journey that we undertake. I can't stop thinking about the different bags I use for every trip that I take. There's a small one for going to the shops/ to the bank bag. There's my big, bulky books bag that I carry with me daily to work. Whether I get to read all those articles is another story, for another day, but yeah, it makes me look important and busy. :-) There's the slouchy baby bag which fits T's toys, cups, change of clothes, biscuits etc. Yho! that bag has it tough! Lol. I take this analogy of luggage as part of the journey of life. What I'm trying to say is, do you know what is being packaged in your bag? What are you learning as you journey through life? Do you carry things in your bag that can be used for others to learn from and grow? I had to fill in my performance review forms at work, I couldn't believe just how much I'm busy with. It shocked me to see that some of the stuff I consume endless hours on, is actually half of what I need to be actually working on, lol! So yeah! my question today is, are you carrying and adding relevant stuff into your personal luggage? Personal luggage also known as, your personal profile.

As we journey together

Today's song in my heart is Bebe Winans' "It all comes down to love". I cannot stop smiling thinking just how much God loves me. I have loving family, Sunday was confirmation of that. A wonderful spouse and beautiful young man. I singed my knuckles trying to steam pudding last night. My two men rushed around making me comfortable and pain free. :-) God has chosen and has aligned me to all these beautiful, amazing souls. We've just had a department information sharing session. It was great! Information about what will be expected of us when we submit our dissertations. Well it was meant more for those who are supervising or promoting students, and I got a chance to hear. God, is that you talking to me? Reminding me that it's not that far fetched an idea that I'll be submitting soon, that I'll have two articles extracted from my studies by the time I submit. Wow, I'm humbled. Thank you for reminding me that I'm not alone on this journey, as we journey forward together...

Still trotting along...

I may have started my analysis chapter, that is chapter 4 of 6, that sounds very impressive. But the truth of the matter is, I am still going back and forth learning and unlearning stuff. I had the honour of attending a writing retreat between 17 and 19  June, organised by the Directorate for Community Engagement. It was an eye opening session, really worthy. I enjoyed every moment. I had a slow start, what with getting to the venue late. *hidesfaceinhands. The three days were amazing, showed me that with determination and focus a lot can be achieved. I left with a paper in hand, all I need to do is just edit here and there and I'll be on my way to submitting. I just love pushing things out a bit, so I've promised myself that I'll submmit to a  journal in September. :-)

The journey starts with you...

I have had a few opportunities to be reminded that the power is in my hands. I have the power to turn any situation around. I've been procrastinating so much of late. I have had my Chapter 2 corrections at my disposal, but allowed all else to consume me. My personal life has been nothing short of an amazing roller coaster ride. I got married on 7 June, moved in with my hubby the following day. Taking up new roles is never easy no matter how prepared you may think you are. I had corrections to do for my dissertation, no such luck. I write today, a month later having only submitted on Friday. I am aware that the longer I take, the further I push my grad date. oops! had an interesting chat to an academic I look up to. I see myself in his office, but do not have a clearly charted route to how to get there. So yeah, today again I am reminded before his office can hold me by the hand and help me, I have to know where I want to go and see the destination. The journey will only start if I have the map?...