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My roller-coaster ride of mental health

29 October 2020 | Story Thokozane Ngcongwane | Photo Supplied

Thokozane_web read more — Thokozane Ngcongwane recommends that students and staff should actively seek help for their mental-health challenges.

My name is Thokozane Ngcongwane. I coordinate the UFSS1504 module in the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The journey of struggles and triumphs against mental illness has often peppered my life more than I thought. Having grown up in rural Free State, it was hard for my parents, as well as those around me, to believe that things such as mental illness exist – let alone their own son!

I grew up with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and was admitted numerous times as the illness was misdiagnosed and untreated. This laid the foundation for a childhood filled with amazing feats of energetic activity, but also had the downside of being misunderstood, or ill-treated due to this illness. Before I knew about this illness, I believed that because of my height (I have been given the names ‘Napoleon’ and ‘Goliath’ by various people, throughout) and stature. I was a prime target for bullying.

Fast forward to university, and with the world as my oyster, I believed I would do well, graduate, and become the scientist I have always dreamed of becoming. Nothing could prepare me for the roller-coaster ride that, even to this day, has taught me highly valuable life lessons that I would never have received anywhere else. I started a degree in Chemistry (Extended) and was doing well in the first year. I was even fortunate enough to be selected for the F1 Leadership for Change exchange programme that took me to the USA. That was an incredible experience. Fast forward to my third year, and things took a turn for the worse.

By 2013, I started getting panic and anxiety attacks, the origin of which was quite unknown to me at the time. I thought that I was starting to go insane and this caused a huge drop in my academics, as well as distorting my overall view on life. I started refusing to see friends and family and even shunned myself from engaging in academics. This was the start of my battles and little prepared me for the fight ahead. I took a trip outside of my surroundings and became aware of how the people I avoided cared for me, and the result was that I overcame anxiety for that period. Family, friends, and lecturers were supportive and encouraged me to do my best amid this unknown period in my life. My academics improved and I became social again.

When I thought the worst was behind me, I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). I contacted Student Counselling and Development and received professional assistance. I started feeling better again and was on my way to graduating, albeit the journey was fraught with anxious moments. My graduation was delayed due to a credit shortfall, and this threw me in the deep end once again. This time, I dealt with it better by engaging myself in my passions – sports and the outdoors. I graduated in May 2016 and secured a temporary job as a Science teacher.

I returned home to the Qwaqwa Campus, where I became an intern in CTL. My troubles reached a boiling point in 2019, and I contacted Careways on recommendation of my head of department. It is now 2020, the year of global anxieties. I have learnt that institutions such as the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) are available to help. Higher Health is also available to deal with issues around stigmatisation. In short, seek help and never abandon your support structures. Your mental health matters.

News Archive

Kovsies reign FNB Superbowl

2007-05-10

The FNB Super Bowl took place from 26 – 30 April in Potchefstroom.

The Kovsies reigned the tournament in their respective categories.

It was an absolute mega Intervarsity. The following tournaments took place in which Kovsies was represented.

Senior rugby tournament

The Shimlas won their first game against TUT 33-0

In the Semi-final Shimlas lost against Pukke 17-8.

The Shimlas played for third and fourth place against Tukkies and won the game 41-19. Which secured them the third place in the tournament.

The following teams participated in the tournament

Pukke, UJ, Shimlas, Tukkies, Maties, NMMU, TUT, UCT

SA Students team

The following Shimlas were selected for the SA student games:

Steph Roberts (prop)

Drikus Strydom (hooker)

Philip Steyn (lock)

Marlin Ruiters (Scrumhalf)

Marcel du Toit (flyhalf)

Pharmaton Junior Rugby Tournament

The Kovsies u/21 & u/19 teams won their respective tournaments. It is a wonderful accomplishment for the University. The following teams took part in the tournament: Kovsies, Pukke, Tukkies and UJ.

u/21 results

Won Pukke 12-11

Won UJ 22-18

Won Tukkies 47-16

u/19 results

Won UJ 9-8

Won Pukke 25-13

Won Tukkies 25-16

Hostel Rugby Tournament

Reitz and Armentum represented Kovsies. These two teams played against each other in the final which Reitz won 47-0. To have both our hostel teams in the final is an outstanding accomplishment for Kovsies.

The following Universities took park: Kovsies, Pukke, Tukkies and UJ

Reitz results

Won Sonop (UJ): 27-7

Won Patria (Pukke): 11-10

Bastion (Tukkies): withdraw

Won Armentum in the final: 47-0

Armentum results

Won Overs (Pukke): 15-7

Won Afslaan: 49-12

Won Boekenhout: 43-0

Lost against Reitz in the final: 47-0

Hostel Soccer

Veritas represented Kovsies and won Kiaat from Tukkies in the final with 3-1 after a penalty shoot-out.

Hostel Netball

Vergeet-my-nie and Emily Hobhouse represented Kovsies. Vergeet-my-nie lost in the final against Wanda from Pukke17-14.

Hostel Cricket

Vishuis lost in the final against Villagers from Pukke with 5 wickets.

Hostel Hockey

Wag-‘n-Bietjie and Vergeet-my-nie represented Kovsies. Unfortunetly none of them went through to the finals.

We won most of the games against the strongest Universities in the country is an outstanding accomplishment for Kovsies.

Compiled by

Ansu Colditz

Rugby Manager

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