At the end of each year, a group of children leave school and start preparing for a new chapter in their lives. Initially, everyone is scared and uncertain with the start of the after-school chapter, and parents hope and pray for the best. However, it is a privilege to observe the transformation and growth in confidence in each of them. So far, I have experienced the development of Candice and Jacques, and Christo is now ready to start his new chapter.

Candice

Four years ago, as an insecure first-year student, Candice moved into a residence in Potchefstroom. She worked hard, made wonderful friends, seized more opportunities, and transformed into a beautiful young independent woman. Candice has just completed her education degree at NWU in Potchefstroom and is looking forward to a year of teaching with her friend Tristan in Thailand.

Christo

Christo moved to Matieland as a first-year student to study engineering.  I would love to help pack and drive around to get the last necessities for Christo’s new chapter. I wanted to listen to the rector’s speech on a beautiful summer afternoon in Coetzenburg while I got excited about the wonder of being young. However, I could only sit on this side of the globe and look at residence moving-in photos with Stellenbosch’s blue mountains and green oak trees colouring the background. I watched the rector’s speech on a video that a dear friend sent me.

University of Stellenbosch

Years ago, I fell in love with Stellenbosch. I loved the Eerste River, old oak trees, and exuberant student cheerfulness. Already working, we enjoyed the Maties Vensters event and the festivity of the first-year students’ contributions to the entertainment program. I was looking forward to the day I could be part of my own children’s student years in this historic town. A few years ago, we bought an apartment in Stellenbosch between the Faculty of Business and Engineering so that the student accommodation for the boys was in place.

Jacques

Within a week after January 2018 arrived, I realised Jacques would not be Matie. I had to accept that our Heavenly Father had other plans for him. With a heavy heart and uncertainty about his future, I had to say goodbye to him on his journey to Potchefstroom, which is 1 300km away.

The first night he slept in Candice’s new empty apartment with a thin blanket as that was the only bedding that could fit into his suitcase. The rest was up to him. He used the blanket as a pillow and the curtain as a sheet. Many miracles later, he finally had a place to live in Campus Key and had to take care of himself.

NWU in Potchefstroom

Two years later, I can see a beautiful young man who quickly had to become independent, cook delicious food, make a difference in other people’s lives, and work hard on his future. Jacques is eager to complete the final year of his business degree at NWU in Potchefstroom so that he, as a born entrepreneur, can implement all his ideas and plans. I am very proud of him.

On 22 January 2020, Christo moved into Helshoogte men’s residence in Stellenbosch to start his chapter as a student. With his mother far away, there are many similarities between my two sons’ situations. He had to make plans by himself, make decisions and get help where needed. It is going well, and he enjoys all the new experiences and people. I am grateful for all the angels on our path who help with so much love and care. Just like I did with Jacques, I plan to visit Christo in Stellenbosch in April 2020 to see his new home and life. I cannot wait!

These few years between leaving the nest and becoming a young adult, fly by quickly. It is a period of making new friends, testing values, discovering who they are and what role they want to play in society. The young people become independent and the relationship between parent and child changes to a relationship between two adults. It requires growth and adjustment for both parties.

Kind regards

Emsia