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.