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Jenna Clarkson on obtaining her degree despite health challenges

24 April 2023 | Story Gerda-Marié van Rooyen | Photo Charl Devenish

Overcoming numerous health obstacles during her studies, Jenna Clarkson is in high spirits after obtaining her degree from the University of the Free State (UFS). While most students enjoyed an active social and campus life, she often had to visit the hospital while studying. Receiving her BA Integrated Organisational Communication qualification during the April 2023 graduation ceremony has been a healing balm after many years of pain.

The Faculty of the Humanities graduate was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2021. In 2022, after several physiotherapists and emergency room visits, she was also diagnosed with juvenile disc disorder and sacroiliitis. The latter condition affects one or both sacroiliac joints where the lower spine and pelvis meet and may cause pain in one or both legs.

Initially, Jenna assumed she had hurt herself during karate practice, but the pain would not subside. “I would randomly lose feeling in my legs and couldn’t sit. I spent a year in pain and struggled to walk, lift heavy objects, cough, and sleep on my side. I struggled with the fact that this was going to be an issue for the rest of my life.”

However, with a lot of love from her friends, support from her lecturers, and grace with herself, Jenna learned how to handle the pain and to realise when she has met her limits. This student from Johannesburg says that although pain is frustrating and overwhelming, having emotional support helps. “Sometimes just having someone to listen and be there is the best thing.”

The journey to the graduation stage might have been difficult for this high-flyer, but it was a worthwhile undertaking.

“I feel over the moon, and a little overwhelmed that it happened,” says Jenna about getting her degree in communications. Loving her field of study, she attended class eagerly and enjoyed her modules. “I love that I am allowed to create, I get to make something. There’s nothing more amazing than getting a brief and being able to look at it and create something from it that nobody else would have created. The bonus is that I am quite good at it too,” adds the student who is currently doing her honours degree at the UFS.

Getting her first degree from the UFS, Jenna is determined to excel in her chosen field.

“I would like to get my honours degree cum laude and do a PhD degree, but I am taking it one degree at a time. If it doesn’t work out that way, it’s okay. I am very good at figuring things out and making a plan.”

Jenna is determined to make her parents proud. “Having lost my dad at four, I do everything with the hope that he would be proud of my choices. My mom sacrificed a lot to give me the best life she could.”

News Archive

New SRC constitution for UFS main campus agreed upon by all organisations

2005-07-20

University of the Free State Fact Sheet

1. The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) unanimously approved an amendment to the SRC constitution for the main campus to allow for the introduction of proportional representation (PR) alongside a first-past-the-post electoral system.

2. This decision was taken by the UFS Council on 10 June 2005 at the same meeting where it also approved the establishment of a Central SRC for the three campuses of the UFS.

3. The new main campus SRC constitution is the result of consensus reached during a lengthy negotiation process involving diverse student formations such as Sasco, the ANC Youth League, the Young Communist League, the ACDP, HEREXVII, KovsieAlliance, as well as the democratically elected SRC members of the main campus. Independent persons such as Mr Jack Klaas and Mr Kobus van Loggerenberg facilitated the negotiation process.

4. The consensus reached during this process, and the subsequent decision by Council, represent a major breakthrough for student governance and transformation of the UFS main campus and constitutes a legitimate basis for the democratic participation of all students at the UFS main campus in the governance of the university.

5. The introduction of the proportional representation system follows earlier calls by some student formations, notably Sasco and the ANC Youth League, for such a system to be introduced at the UFS main campus in Bloemfontein.

6. In terms of the amendments to the main campus SRC constitution, nine of the 18 SRC members are to elected by means of proportional representation and nine on the basis of an direct, first-past-the-post election.

7. The following portfolios of the main campus SRC will be contested by individual candidates on the basis of “first past the post”:
• president
• secretary
• academic affairs
• legal and constitutional affairs
• student development
• arts and culture
• men’s internal liaison
• ladies internal liaison
• media, marketing and liaison

8. The following nine portfolios will be contested by affiliated organizations on a proportional representation basis.
• two vice-presidents
• treasurer
• dialogue and associations
• transformation
• campus affairs and recreation
• sport
• international affairs
• community service

9. These two decisions regarding student governance represent a breakthrough in that, for the first time in many years, all SRC constitutional changes were processed and approved by the June meeting of the Council, well in time for the scheduled August SRC election; in addition, all relevant student organizations have been part of the process and all have accepted the outcome of the process.

20 July 2005

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