The official release of the news was made, we had to stay home for about a month and start practicing social distancing. Mixed feelings rushed through my mind, among a million of them, some were; how will academic work be handled, and will I still be allowed to ride around a few blocks with my bicycle?

My mind raced with images seen on the website, movies and stories I’ve heard. One, two, three it hit me when a taxi pulled over in front of me and I ask: “Nust Please”. Oh gosh, varsity!!!

As we got closer butterflies danced around my stomach making it seem as if I was under some sort of spell. As we drove further I saw within a distance a road sign indicating: “UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY”. Shoot we have arrived!!

Everybody makes university seem like such a daunting, terrifying and nerve-wracking experience but when you choose to study what you love, the experience feels almost too short and so much fun.

I only say this because I speak from experience.

Even though I am a third-year student (studying journalism and media technology), I have been at this institution since 2016 and my first two years at NUST ended up a waste of time, because I was busy studying something I honestly could not stand.

My name is Lelian David, better known as Lily Flower. Born in Rundu and grew up in Windhoek, I am a Namibian female, with a passion for leadership development. I was raised by dedicated and hardworking parents who ensured we always had enough to send me to school, despite their humble earnings.

I am the second youngest of nine siblings and I am pursuing an engineering dream despite the fact that my parents could never have afforded my studies. Today, I have two degrees to my name and I am currently pursuing a third one. All this has been made possible through scholarship awards.

I grew up in Grootfontein and attended primary school at Makalani Primary School. After completing grade 7, I moved on to Grootfontein Secondary School to pursue the next level of education. From grade 8 to 10, I received a number of school awards such as highest in a certain subject and Junior Academic colors.

Eish guys, me I'm tired. Ironically, I'm even typing this at 01h48 am after a long day of hosting a beauty pageant, finishing an assignment for Services Marketing, performing a comedy set AND planning operations for the Marketing Society's stalls at the Career Fair…since I'm president of the Marketing Society on top of everything else! Aiye man guys me I'm tired!

With the academic year in full swing, we are now bombarded with tests, assignments are due, and for students who are employed, work is demanding its fair share of attention. For Honours students it’s time to embark on the special journey of deciding on a research topic in order to make new beginnings of valuable contributions to the research world. Although scary, understanding that you have an opportunity to make a difference is a good place to be in. You will have to answer challenging questions such as which areas you excel in and where your contribution is most needed.

I have always wanted to go abroad, live in a different country and be away from my family and friends. I finally got this opportunity when I was selected to go study abroad in Germany for a semester and for the first time in my life I felt at home in a strange and foreign place.
Everything was completely different but amazing. I loved it in Europe, it’s peaceful and welcoming. It is amazing how they use all modes of transport; so many people use bicycles. I can't ride a bicycle and tried learning once but it didn't work, I guess I was not committed enough.

Cutting your dreadlocks after two years, moving out of your parent’s home or deciding to pursue a new degree all seem scary at first; change is uncertain and filled with plenty of grey areas. But what we never realise is that we have the ability and chance to fill those grey areas. I have always been a rational thinker, I will weigh options 100 times before I conclude and even then I will try to find something hidden in between. Although one would argue and say that rational thinking is an important attribute I would argue otherwise in most cases.