UJ@20: Reflection from the inside

University of Johannesburg's 20 years anniversary is not just a throwback it is a celebration of legacy, impact and everything that makes UJ a blueprint for excellence in higher education. As a student at University of Johannesburg I am excited to be part of this momentous occasion. I am honoured for being part of a vibrant and diverse community that fosters a sense of belonging and connection.

Experiences, challenges and growth

My arrival here in Johannesburg came with too many expectations as it has been my dream to be a UJ student one day. As I walk on the campus on my first day feeling the vibrant, seeing different people with different cultures, beliefs and dreams that is where I remembered how privileged I was. From my first day on campus, I knew that UJ was going to be more just a place of learning.

Although I initially had no intention of pursuing Public Relations as a course, my journey at the University of Johannesburg took an unexpected turn. When I first came here, I didn't know what public relations was all about. In my second I was planning on changing the course but unfortunately I got rejected and twice.

My career path got complicated, I started neglecting everything including my studies, friends and worse myself I even thought of dropping out because I felt depressed. On my second year I decided to come back and because UJ isn't just a place for learning I got help by getting a counselling at PsycaD and I gained confidence and strength to pursue the course.

The university's diverse range of modules and flexible curriculum allowed me to explore different fields, and I stumbled upon Public Relations through an elective course. Even though there were other modules that challenged me and gave me a hard time of my life making me feel like I'm not doing enough and bringing back the feelings that maybe I am not in the right field! but because of the UJ passionate lectures, interactive tutorials, and real-world case studies helped me to improve my understanding and soon I found myself drawn to the dynamic nature of the field LOL!!

I started attending events held by SPRA, took trips to visit public relation agencies and reputation management consultants like Magna Carta.

Meeting professionals in public relations like Rianette Leibowitz. I started engaging in UJ Community Engagement helping the surrounding communities. 

Now I have learned the impotency of teamwork, resilience, and adaptability. I have also had the opportunity to develop my critical thinking skills, challenge my assumptions, and to explore in this field.

Today I am grateful for UJ's role in guiding me towards a career path that I never knew I'd love. I just hope UJ continues to not only be a place of learning but another home far from home, I hope it continues to be a blueprint even in the upcoming decades and continues to have boundaries of academic excellence and innovation.

How about you?

What are your favorite memories or experiences at UJ? Are you doing a career that you passionate with? What is your advice to any university student about career choice?