BLEND NOV ‘ 21 BUAS
We are BUas
In South Africa we have a famous philosophy that many people live by : uBuntu . The word is a mixture of Xhosa and Zulu and translates to the phrase ‘ I am because you are ’. This philosophy is based on the idea that all of humanity is connected , and encapsulates that our achievements , individual and whole , are equally due to the work , support and accomplishments of others . While the term might not be as well known here in Breda ( and the Netherlands at large ) as it is back home in South Africa , I am happy to have found the majority of the BUas community living by it .
Having read through the first paragraph , you might be feeling a bit lost , and thinking where South Africa fits in here and who is writing this . To quench your curiosity and provide you with a bit of context let me introduce myself . My name is Cashelle McLean , the editor in chief of this BLEND issue . I am from South Africa and this year I moved to Breda to become a Creative Business student at BUas . While I am in my last year of studies ( fingers crossed ), this is my first year studying at BUas and the start of my life in the Netherlands .
My experiences of uBuntu at BUas have been plentiful in my short time here . My journey of adapting and adjusting to a new , intense workload and culture has been filled with many challenging and frustrating moments . However , it has been filled with just as many moments of kindness , support , and encouragement from so many people within the BUas community . From team hugs through stress-filled tears , lecturers who offer a cup of coffee and a chat , to the kind smiles and patience of the student desk team . Each one of these experiences has given me the strength to adapt , grow and achieve- allowing me in turn to support and encourage my fellow BUas community . This is the spirit of uBuntu .
Whether we realise it or not , for many , university is the most freeing and trying time of our lives . It is where we find ourselves and embark on the journey of carving out our place within society . Our studies , lecturers , and classmates all play an important role in this adventure . Each helping in their own way to shape who we are , and in turn we , the BUas community , shape the university , embodying its ethos and driving its growth for the generations of tomorrow .
Together We Are BUas .
Written and designed by : Cashelle McLean
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