MC EXPERIENCE NEWSLETTER Issue First Year Edition

MC Experience Newsletter

2016/02/01

BUSINESS, COMMUNICATION, MARKETING AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Dear Future MCtarians

You are standing on the verge of a phase of growth, self-actualisation and new opportunities. If anything it is beyond exciting as well as challenging. One cannot always expect to be prepared for what this time at university holds, but you can make the most of what comes your way day by day.

Even though you will be flooded with “survival tips” in the coming weeks and on making it through university, I would like to offer my two cents to you, not only for first year, but going forward as well.

Firstly, I would like to encourage you to never settle, whether it is in your academics, extra-curricular activities or just life in general. When you walk out of here within the next three or four years you will not be the only one, unfortunately. However, what you chose to do with the time at hand in the coming years, differentiate you from the rest who also walk out of here with more or less the same degree.

In everything you do strive for excellence, not perfection. Excellence lies in always

aiming to better yourself and the work that you put in. Perfection is an unattainable standard that will burn you out and chances are that you will never reach it. There is a line from a movie called Three Idiots that has proved true so many times: “Always chase excellence and success will come running, pants down!”

Cut yourself some slack. There will be times when you feel knocked down, uncertain, average or incompetent. Other times you will feel on top of the world and ready to conquer the mightiest challenge. IT IS O.K. to feel that way. You don’t have to have everything figured out yet and you are allowed to figure yourself out too. You have more time now than ever before.

Equip yourself. In the three years that lie ahead of you, opportunities will be presented to you that might not come around again. Use them to better yourself, your skill set and your value proposition (a BCom-word you are bound to hear somewhere).

Lose short-sightedness. Compared to the rest of your life the years at university are merely specs on the timeline. Don’t become trapped in the here and now. Draw up a vision (note: not a five year, ten

step plan) and work towards it. University may be merely a stepping stone.

Get involved. The old adage says that no man is an island. One of the most valuable skills to possess today is that of networking – trust me on this one! Attend guest speaker events, cocktail evenings, industry visits and career fairs. Make yourself available to a society with whose mission you identify. You will learn a lot and acquire valuable connections along the way.

In conclusion, remember this (my dad’s wise words when I was a first year): The university doesn’t teach you a job – it teaches you to think!

Welcome, First Year!

Sohané Kruger

MC Experience Chairperson 2016

A WORD FROM THE

CHAIRPERSON

MC EXPERIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue FIRST YEAR EDITION 2

We would

like to welcome our members, old and

new, to the year 2016, a year which will

definitely be filled with motivation,

enrichment, development, the growth

of our society, but most importantly

personal growth of all our members.

Year by year MC Experience grows

into an even better, more efficient

powerhouse (no load-shedding) and,

and this year is no different. Yes, we

are indeed excited for the year ahead!

But first of all, allow us to reintroduce

ourselves:

Who are we?

We are individuals joined together by the common need for achievement, a drive to make a difference in the lives of others and the commitment and dedication to sustaining and heightening MC Experience’s standard of excellence.

What do we do?

We endeavour to close the gap between the lecture hall and the work industry by organising a number of excursions during the year to give our members a firsthand experience of the workplaces of established businesses in the relevant field. In addition to that, we invite motivational speakers, host networking events and, not forgetting those in need, we periodically go out for outreaches.

Why become an MCtarian?

MC Experience isn’t just part of the field, we have goals. We aren’t just on the move, we have a destination. And because MC Experience has the interests of its members at heart, we do not just focus on what might benefit you in the future but on your current needs as well. We provide moral support to our members, assistance with any academic queries, and put in effort to cultivate leadership qualities in each other. With team work anything can be achieved, and MC Experience wants to

work with you to achieve success both in university and in your future career.

Lesego Diutlwileng

Marketing Executive Committee Member

MC EXPERIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue FIRST YEAR EDITION 3

MC EXPERIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue FIRST YEAR EDITION 4

Meet our Guardian

I am overjoyed to write the following

words: Dear MC Experience

members, welcome to 2016!! A new

year awaits and is at your doorstep

with new challenges, new modules,

new opportunities and new

experiences that will hopefully

create life long memories.

When MC Experience was started

in 2008 the first executive

committee and I were enthusiastic

and hopeful that the student society

would expand on a yearly basis. It

is great to see how it has

snowballed into the number one

marketing and communication

knowledge hub for students at

TUKS.

MC Experience members will agree

that 2015 was filled with different

excursions, outreach projects,

many guest speaker events and

interesting social events. Therefore,

if this is your first encounter with MC

Experience and you want to gain

more than just the ‘normal’ student

experiences at TUKS, then MC

Experience is for you. Yes, you will

acquire knowledge from your

modules, textbooks and lecturers,

but if you want to enrich your

learning on a social, an academic

as well as a practical level, then MC

Experience is the best avenue to

see how these fields intertwine.

My wish for each MC Experience

member is that although there will

always be a test or exam to study

for, or an assignment or

presentation that needs to be

finished, that you will use this year

to also develop into who you are

and who you strive to be. Make a

conscious effort to get to know your

fellow students, be inspired and

also inspire others and who

knows…maybe even say hallo to

your new crush...

I am honoured and feel privileged to

have been appointed as the 2016

guardian for MC Experience and

look forward that we expand on the

foundation that has been concreted

by previous MC Experience

executive committees and

members.

To the 2016 chairperson, Sohané,

her executive committee and all the

current members, may this year be

exciting and fruitful. To the

prospective members and MC

Experience seekers, welcome, you

have come to the right starting point

to gain insight into the ever-growing

world of marketing, communication

and business management.

Dawie Bornman

MC Experience guardian 2016 and

founding chairperson 2008

MC EXPERIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue FIRST YEAR EDITION 5

Be your own brand and set yourself for success

Congratulations to all the first years for passing their matric exams. We are proud of you and we are excited for those who will be part of the Department of Marketing Management for the next three years. The feeling of passing the matric exams can be gratifying - as it remains one of the big milestones of one’s lifetime. But trust me, this is nothing compared to what awaits you as a student in Marketing Management!

Life at university is interesting, exciting and overwhelming – all in one. You begin to experience a lot of new things that you haven’t experienced before. Since the University of Pretoria is a diversified university, this presents a huge opportunity for you to grow academically and socially. The most important thing that one has to consider as a first

year student is to set yourself apart and be your own brand. In Marketing Management you will learn a lot about brands, and how to market those brands, but for now it is important that you realise you are your own personal brand that need to have a vision and set objectives for your studies.

As a former student I know how easy it is to be complacent and forget why you are HERE (University), and you find yourself lost in the excitement of being in a dynamic cosmopolitan environment. Please choose your associations carefully because the type of friends that you associate with may determine the altitude of your success. Be willing to try out new things and to allow experiences to shape and mould you. Be willing to meet new people and to make new friends. Be confident of your capabilities and do not be shy to ask questions whenever you do not understand something.

My final words for you are that you take charge of your future from the first day you step into the university corridors. Be honest, disciplined and respectful to others. When you respect your environment you win the respect of society, and you achieve peace of mind. Stand tall and be counted because you are an exceptional brand.

I am looking forward to meeting you in Marketing Management 110!

Mr Thinkwell Ndhlovu

Uit die pen van die Afrikaanse BEM 110 dosent:

Die vryheid en onafhanklikheid wat gepaardgaande is met eerstejaarstudent-wees is vir 99,9% van alle eerstejaars oorweldigend. Dit is ʼn ongelooflike voorreg om te wees waar julle is en partykeer wens ek, ek kon die klok terug draai en weer in julle skoene staan. Aan die ander kant is daar ook ʼn groot verantwoordelikheid wat op elke eerstejaar se skouers rus. JY moet die werk bemeester om sodoende al jou vakke te slaag. Jou toekoms is op die spel. My raad aan julle oor

MC EXPERIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue FIRST YEAR EDITION 6

hoe om te oorleef as ʼn eerstejaar is as volg:

Maak so gou moontlik nuwe vriende (in jou koshuis, daghuis EN in jou klas). Universiteit is die grootste geleentheid om verghoudings en vriendskappe te bou wat ʼn leeftyd sal hou. Jou klasmaats is noodsaaklik om jou te help indien jy deur ʼn krisis gaan en dalk nie klas kon bywoon nie.

Lees jou studiegids en feiteblaaie, bly ook op hoogte van wat jou dosente op ClickUP of e-pos kommunikeer. Moet nooit sê: EK HET NIE GEWEET NIE.

Hou balans, jou werk en studies is jou nommer een prioriteit, maar jy moet tyd maak om te sosialiseer. Woon funksies by en maak herinneringe bymekaar. Om ʼn student te wees, is ʼn eens in ʼn leeftyd gebeurtenis, moet dit nie laat verbygaan en met spyt terugkyk nie.

Laastens, moenie bang wees om vir hulp te vra nie, dosente is daar om te help en wil jou graag sien slaag.

Baie sterkte vir die jaar wat voorlê, ek hoop om julle almal in die klas te sien.

Danita Potgieter

Dear Student

Welcome to the Communication Management Division and the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences as a whole. If you are a first-year student, you may feel a bit intimidated by the process, but please don’t. You were smart enough to get in, so you definitely have the smarts to survive your studies and make a success of your time spent with us.

The Communication Management Division is widely recognised, both in South Africa and internationally, as a centre of excellence in producing communication practitioners and scholars of the highest quality. Studying BCom (Communication Management) entails more than just the attainment of an

academic qualification – it is a formative process of personal growth and development. Not only will our students’ abilities increase and develop during their studies, but the experience will have an impact and a positive influence on the totality of the learning individual.

Our department is designed to provide consistent, high-quality and appropriate academic advising, monitoring, mentoring, nurturing and coaching to ensure your academic and personal success. Your academic success depends on how well you take responsibility for your own education, including taking initiative to achieve academic excellence. It is up to you to take advantage of these services as soon and as often as you need them.

We look forward to supporting your academic and personal success at the University of Pretoria, and just remember that the BEST is yet to come!

Olebogeng Selebi

MC EXPERIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue FIRST YEAR EDITION 7

Always have your money ready in your

hand when buying from Coffee Buzz or

the Kiosk. No one has that much

patience.

The Humanities

building starts on floor 3, not

floor 1.

On that note, use the stairs to reach

floor 4 in the Humanities

Building, not the elevators.

There are no classes on floor

3 in the IT Building.

The chairs in the EMS building

creak. A lot.

If you have a class in the Law

Building, it is probably the class

to your right.

All the nice coffee places on

campus are hidden.

Tribeca is next to the Rautenbach

Hall, near the Engineering

Building.

Adlers is through the

Aids Building. (Next to Oom

Gert)

Do not skip class! It is

not worth it!

Study like you are paying for your

tuition out of your own pocket.

Welcome at the University of

Pretoria and MC Experience! Enjoy

your year!