WEEK 1
MONDAY
It’s my final month at AFDA, and it’s crunch time. I’m very nervous because I still have to finish my research thesis and my final second script draft for my major in scriptwriting. So far, I have only ten responses to the surveys that I sent out for my research thesis.
I’m getting nervous because time is running out, and I wish my supervisor had allowed me to finish the surveys before the end of term three – when I had wanted to send out the surveys. I know that people are busy and that it takes them forever to respond to a request and a favour, like what’s happening now. But there’s nothing I can do to speed up the process. Due to ethical concerns, I cannot bribe my participants (which would be a brilliant way of manipulating them into sending me their responses NOW).
As for the second draft of my script, I am still waiting for feedback from Mr. Wilby before I can continue. So now there’s nothing to do except wait, wait, and wait for Mr. Wilby’s – and the survey participants’ – responses. Oh well.
TUESDAY
I’m still waiting for feedback, so I spend the day reading the book Adorning The Dark by Andrew Peterson. The introduction has a beautiful, touching quote that rings true: ‘You know and understand things about the heart of God that only YOU can teach.”
WEDNESDAY
I attend Dr. Moodley’s class online via Zoom, and the topic is ‘Creative Industries.’ We as Honours students are being prepared to step out into the vast, unknown world. But for me, it’s not that scary, because I’ve been there before. ‘Because this industry is highly unpredictable, there’s a greater need to have a visible status in public through social reputation, informal networks, etc,’ Dr. Moodley tells us. She also shares, “The creative industries can be a complex, highly dynamic and insecure environment. Successful adaptation results from the ability of individuals to develop and change their behaviour, knowledge base, and actions.”
This is also the day (or rather, night in America) when Trump is winning the 2024 elections by a landslide. In between my online class, I watch his victory speech on YouTube.
THURSDAY
We have an unexpected full day of loadshedding in our area, and I never charged both my laptops. This means I only have 30 minutes worth of battery, so I quickly work out the outline for my final Core Course assignment. Then the laptop dies, and I can’t do anything else for the rest of the day.
I still don’t have my 15 participants for my surveys, so I contact my d/Deaf friends and ask them for more contacts. Thankfully, they send me their contacts and I contact them. Hopefully, I’ll get my final five participants by the end of this weekend.
I take my book, go outside and lie on the trampoline, and read. The fresh air and warm sun are exactly what I needed to relax and just do nothing. I wish my job didn’t require me to work in front of a laptop all day long…
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
I have an early start to the day and I write 2,600 words for my final Core Course assignment. I’m relieved that all my assignments are finally coming to an end – soon, very soon. My supervisor also contacts me and asks if I have my 15 participants’ responses. I am honest and tell him, ‘No, and it’s frustrating!’
On a positive note, I see the trailer for our short film, ‘Is’Thuthi’, for the first time, and it’s finally becoming a reality: my first-ever film will have its premiere by the end of this month! I’ve waited so many years for this breakthrough in my career, and now it’s finally happening. There’s so much to be thankful for.
SUNDAY
I design my Professional Assessment Presentation that I will need to present this month. I have so much fun playing around with the designs and photos. I love graphic design, and I think it’s something I would’ve loved to do if my writing career hadn’t worked out. But once again, it’s in front of the laptop, and I don’t like that I can’t move around.
I create a Page for my Resume on my website, as well as my Acting and Films Pages. Then I go check in my closet for outfits to wear for my film premiere, as well as the Awards Gala Evening.
WEEK 2
MONDAY
I have an online meeting with Dr. Semege about my survey results, and he says that I must start collecting the data via an Excel sheet while I wait for the final 5 responses. I’m not good with Excel, so he has to show me step-by-step what to do.
Seraya Mentor, the producer for our film, is featured on a television program, where she promotes the film. She even mentions my name at 2:15.
TUESDAY
I’m in Port Elizabeth for most of the day for my appointment with my osteopath. When we arrive home that afternoon, I feel tired and overwhelmed due to my adrenal fatigueness. I ask my mom if she’d be willing to help me work through my survey data, and she jumps in to help. I am so grateful to her for everything she’s done for me this year. It’s not been an easy year at all. We finish the Excel spreadsheet and I send it in to my supervisor.
I receive a surprising email from the social media department at AFDA in Cape Town. Her letter entails the following:
I came across your website (love it) and I see you’re a postgraduate student with us and a scriptwriter. Was wondering if you have any images or videos from table reading sessions, we will use them on social media, from any of the projects you have worked on this year.
This is so cool. I set up a zip folder with photos of where I worked on the scripts for AFDA, and I send it to her. So honouring and humbling to be recognized by AFDA CT.
WEDNESDAY
I attend Dr. Moodley’s class on campus, and she shares and discusses how to create online portfolios and web designs. It’s been almost three weeks since I’ve been on campus, and I have a lot of catching up to do. I query about the Awards Gala evening (is it compulsory? am I allowed to bring my mother?), I ask about the film premiere (are we required to attend both screenings?), my professional presentation for next week (how long should it be?), I also get two tickets for the film, I remind Mr. Wilby that I still need feedback for my second script’s first draft, I get my full video interview footage from Daniel, I enquire from Dr. Moodley about NMU’s master’s programs, etc. I rush around campus to get all my answers and information, and then I’m ready to drive back home to Jeffrey’s Bay.
THURSDAY
I’m extremely tired after a busy day at AFDA, and my nervous system and energy levels are drained. I spend the day sleeping, watching television, sitting in the sun, playing with the cats, drinking my supplements, and eating my proteins and veggies.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
I’m still extremely tired, but I push through and finish my survey findings. I finally got the last 5 responses that I needed. I put all the data and interpretations into my research thesis, and it looks great.
I also work a bit on my master’s proposal that I’ll have to send in to universities once I start applying for next year.
SUNDAY
I watch Kris Vallotton’s sermon from the 10th of November 2024, and his message encourages me. ‘We are now entering a new era, a third awakening, and it’s time for the kings, prophets, and priests to arise,’ he says.
I spend the afternoon applying at three universities for my master’s next year – AFDA, NMU, and Rhodes University. It takes me almost three hours, and it’s annoying how many details they require of me. It’s pages and pages of information that I have to fill out. Why do they need so much info???
WEEK 3
MONDAY
I will need a bursary next year if I want to continue my studies, and I look online for postgraduate bursaries. The frustration builds up as I can’t seem to find anything that I qualify for. Then I come across the Fulbright scholarship, but it only covers international students studying in the US. I think, ‘Why not? Let me see if that door opens up instead.’ So I apply to the University of San Francisco as well. Their program looks INCREDIBLE; why doesn’t South Africa offer something similar???
TUESDAY
I read something interesting, and it makes sense why I’m always so tired when I have to write something: ‘With maths, it takes 20 calories per hour for your brain. But with writing, it takes 120 calories per hour. With painting, it takes 150-200 calories per hour.’
WEDNESDAY
When I was on campus on Monday, I took off the ‘Wall of Fame’ billboard that I had made for my special project for the Honours students. I took the Polaroids home, and today I’m cutting it out in smaller pieces so I can give each student their part of the wall. The project is now done, as I’ve decided not to make the student magazine. I’m a bit disappointed to see that the students hadn’t participated as much as I had asked them to. Oh well. It’s over and done with.
THURSDAY
For some reason, I struggle to convert my Excel data into pie charts, so I’m incredibly grateful when the next-door neighbour comes and helps me out. Within 30 minutes, it’s done and dusted. It looks great. The deadline is tomorrow. I submit my final research thesis document to my supervisor and Mr. Wilbly. I can’t believe it’s finally over; it’s a bittersweet moment. My mother says that my grandmother would’ve been so proud of me, as well as my father.
FRIDAY
I work on the second and final draft of my second script, and I make the necessary changes according to the feedback that Mr. Wilby (finally) gave me. It looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to start working on this writing project. There’s so much gold that is yet undiscovered within this story. My mom reads the script and she says, ‘It’s heartfelt and emotional.’
SATURDAY
It’s the day of the film premiere in Port Elizabeth! I am anxious, nervous, and thrilled all in one. I make notes throughout the day, and I plan on writing a personal essay soon based on this marked and noteworthy day (it will be posted sometime in December).
SUNDAY
I can’t believe the film premiere is finally over. I’m sad but looking forward to moving on to my next script and writing project. The film is also available to watch online.
I spend the day editing my Professional Presentation, as well as my final Research Presentation. My day is interrupted – but in a good way – when my mom does an unexpected and unplanned SOZO on me. I will write about that in a personal essay in December as well.
WEEK 4
MONDAY
It’s my FINAL week at AFDA! I get up early and I feel fantastic; my energy levels are in a good place and I’m ready to drive to Port Elizabeth by myself. I dress in a brand new outfit, and I look (and feel!) just like Barbie. I’m ready to take on the world out there. When I left for America in 2016, my father spoke a blessing over me and said that I had been in the harbour for many years. Now it was time for me to leave and take on the open seas. But then personal tragedies happened and I became shipwrecked for so many years. And those years turned into no-man’s land, where I was trapped on an island with no way off. But now it feels like my ship has been mended. I’m spiritually and emotionally whole again; my body is slowly coming into alignment again. Soon I will be able to take on the open seas again…
I arrive on campus and notice once again what a gorgeous and charming campus AFDA GQ is. Is it possible that my year on this campus is finally over? It’s been a quick year, but at the same time a long and painful year where my health was concerned. I’m sad that it’s finally coming to an end… or maybe not? Who knows what the future holds?
Inside the Honours Hub, the students are still busy designing their Professional Presentations. We only start at 10:15, with Mr. Wilby and Ute supervising us and asking us ‘interview questions’ afterward. The feedback that I get for my presentation is that it’s a fantastic setup for getting an agent and/or someone to invest financially in me and my projects. Mr. Wilby also likes how I put my presentation together. I take this moment to thank him and Ute for all that I’ve learned this year; it’s been a year of growth and stretching academically, and in a good way. I’m ready to take on my Master’s next year.
TUESDAY
I have another session with Kobus, my osteopath. I tell him that it’s going incredibly well with me; I have plenty of energy but I tend to feel overwhelmed and emotional. I’ve also lost nine kilograms since I started the recovery process. I feel encouraged by the fact that I’m doing so well physically, despite the challenging days that come unexpectedly and out of nowhere.
WEDNESDAY
Tonight is a big night: it’s the night of our Awards Gala Event. I dress up in my mint green dress, the same dress that I wore to my sister’s wedding ten years ago. I feel and look like a Greek goddess. All in all, a lovely evening despite the pouring rain. Mr. Wilby’s speech makes me emotional when he says farewell to the Honours students. I also get an award – ‘Outstanding Achievement in Postgraduate Script Writing’ – along with my two fellow scriptwriter students.
THURSDAY
Today is my FINAL day at AFDA; my final Research Presentation is booked for 11:00, and I have to do it in front of a panel of experts. I’m understandably nervous, but it’s because I’m still recovering from the previous night. But then it goes exceptionally well; I could not have planned it any better. I also plan on writing a personal essay about it in December.
FRIDAY
And so the end of my journey at AFDA arrives. December will be a month of REST and RECOVERY. I want to read a book that I’ve been waiting the whole year to read – The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, and I also plan on swimming in the water canals and getting some much-needed Vitamin D.
I also read this prophecy for 2025 by Lana Vawser and I realize I must still take it slow next year.
There’s been five major breakthroughs for me this year, and I celebrate each one of them:
- I finished my Honours!
- My first ever film was released!
- I’ve already lost 9kgs!
- My hearing is almost at 100% again!
- I finally got a brand-new iPhone!
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My father’s words for me when I left for the US all those years ago was ‘Bon Voyage!’
But now I feel like it’s ‘Bon Courage!’ A fitting end to my final title and newsletter for AFDA.
