The story of how res life has been a test of APOLLOS HANGULA’s faith.
Text books and a laptop would be commonplace on any first year’s desk but the bookmark packed bible also upon it hints that the student who sits down to this desk is deeply religious, just like the Arsenal cap and banner on his wall suggest he is an avid gunners fan.
If you thought drinking was the only thing a Rhodes student could do to have fun, have a chat with Apollos Hangula. Alcohol has never touched his moustache feathered lips and he’s having the time of his life. Mainly because he has adapted so well to his new home of Botha House. Apollos says: “Back home I would never have associated with people not like me, but I’ve learnt not to be judgemental.” Luckily for him so have the people he lives with and they are happy to accept him and his “odd” habit. “I don’t know what I would have done if I had needed to drink to fit in,” Apollos says, stopping abruptly at that point obviously not wanting to think about having to have compromised his values.
This slight framed, football mad 18-year-old has grown up in Windhoek, Namibia where he received a strong Christian grounding from his parents. Son of a strict disciplinarian father Apollos has learnt how to not put a foot wrong, but without his father’s presence at Rhodes he has been able to reinvent himself. However Apollos’s principles have remained in tact during this reinvention. He has been introduced to DJing and dancing, and surely girls too? Apollos, still smiling after reminiscing about home, says: “No temptation there,” chuckling all the while.
Botha House is now home to this confident, well spoken young man. “My life has been truly guided, it’s a blessing to be where I am now,” Apollos admits. And it seems that his ever positive attitude is influencing his friends who are keen to list his good qualities in between pocketing balls on the pool table. “Apollos is great to have around”, Thabo says, looking up momentarily before striking his pool ball, “and he’s good with the ladies,” he adds, as his ball skids into the corner pocket.
Seems the page on honesty was missing from Apollos’s Bible because he said there was no temptation in that department. Maybe it’s just modesty though. That’s at least one of the impressions people not within his circle of friends get. Colin Kroon, an atheist who’s always ready to challenge Apollos on his religious convictions, says: “Usually I can get people flustered very easily but I find it impossible to aggravate Apollos no matter how much I discredit his beliefs.” It is this strength of character that has won over so many of his peers who would usually have dissociated themselves from someone who doesn’t buy into the philosophy of drinking themselves silly whenever possible.
His faith hasn’t weakened, but has it strengthened? There is a long pause from Apollos that seems to suggest he is unsure, but his measured response banishes this sentiment. “To some people ‘stronger faith’ may mean reading the bible more- I haven’t”, he concedes, “I feel my faith has grown because I have been exposed to more and yet I remain on the path I want to be on,” Apollos says, his gaze not dropping once.
“I don’t pray for the people I live with- I no longer see them as sinners,” says Apollos as a closing statement to what has been a stirring insight into the life of someone who remains righteous amongst the turmoil of immorality that surrounds him.
Text books and a laptop would be commonplace on any first year’s desk but the bookmark packed bible also upon it hints that the student who sits down to this desk is deeply religious, just like the Arsenal cap and banner on his wall suggest he is an avid gunners fan.
If you thought drinking was the only thing a Rhodes student could do to have fun, have a chat with Apollos Hangula. Alcohol has never touched his moustache feathered lips and he’s having the time of his life. Mainly because he has adapted so well to his new home of Botha House. Apollos says: “Back home I would never have associated with people not like me, but I’ve learnt not to be judgemental.” Luckily for him so have the people he lives with and they are happy to accept him and his “odd” habit. “I don’t know what I would have done if I had needed to drink to fit in,” Apollos says, stopping abruptly at that point obviously not wanting to think about having to have compromised his values.
This slight framed, football mad 18-year-old has grown up in Windhoek, Namibia where he received a strong Christian grounding from his parents. Son of a strict disciplinarian father Apollos has learnt how to not put a foot wrong, but without his father’s presence at Rhodes he has been able to reinvent himself. However Apollos’s principles have remained in tact during this reinvention. He has been introduced to DJing and dancing, and surely girls too? Apollos, still smiling after reminiscing about home, says: “No temptation there,” chuckling all the while.
Botha House is now home to this confident, well spoken young man. “My life has been truly guided, it’s a blessing to be where I am now,” Apollos admits. And it seems that his ever positive attitude is influencing his friends who are keen to list his good qualities in between pocketing balls on the pool table. “Apollos is great to have around”, Thabo says, looking up momentarily before striking his pool ball, “and he’s good with the ladies,” he adds, as his ball skids into the corner pocket.
Seems the page on honesty was missing from Apollos’s Bible because he said there was no temptation in that department. Maybe it’s just modesty though. That’s at least one of the impressions people not within his circle of friends get. Colin Kroon, an atheist who’s always ready to challenge Apollos on his religious convictions, says: “Usually I can get people flustered very easily but I find it impossible to aggravate Apollos no matter how much I discredit his beliefs.” It is this strength of character that has won over so many of his peers who would usually have dissociated themselves from someone who doesn’t buy into the philosophy of drinking themselves silly whenever possible.
His faith hasn’t weakened, but has it strengthened? There is a long pause from Apollos that seems to suggest he is unsure, but his measured response banishes this sentiment. “To some people ‘stronger faith’ may mean reading the bible more- I haven’t”, he concedes, “I feel my faith has grown because I have been exposed to more and yet I remain on the path I want to be on,” Apollos says, his gaze not dropping once.
“I don’t pray for the people I live with- I no longer see them as sinners,” says Apollos as a closing statement to what has been a stirring insight into the life of someone who remains righteous amongst the turmoil of immorality that surrounds him.
4 comments:
The choice of your subject in your profile is very interesting, as it conveys what I believe to be a major issue at Rhodes and that is the sanctity of religious belief. When using Propp's ideas of character, Apollos is obviously a hero who has to overcome the pressures which Rhodes exerts on your belief systems., which could be seen as a disruption in the narrative of his life. He has accomplished this mission by remaining a true Christian. Apollos also seems to have turned the corner, by no longer judging others. True Christianity is a dying belief in today's society and by reading about a strong Christian it creates respect for a Rhodes student who does not give into drinking. I believe your profile highlights strong issues on campus by showing the kind of religious character who can stand up for his beliefs as well as not preach or judge others.
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In most cases students find fitting in more difficult than their actual course. You have those who would more than love to receive a badge of acceptance and others who have no intention of going with the flow. We all come to university with some sort of drive of “changing the world”, or “empowering ourselves”, but somehow never seem to be fully successful. By successful I refer to not changing who you are prior to you being a Rhodent, only because your friend believes every Friday night in the club defines your friendship, or the number of Taquilla shots your body can consume. One of the few persons who seem to be successful is Apollos Hangula, of Namibia. He stays in Botha House and has no interest in changing his Christian ways for a milky moustache accompanied with a head ache the following morning. I take great pride in such students. You go boy!
An impressive profile. Well written and I enjoy how the writer incorporates quotes from fellow rez-mates and mentions Apollo’s father which one can read as the "family members" of the "hero" when one is using Propp’s theory. Keeping one's faith and beliefs, which are essentially two of the magical agents one needs to make it through varsity life, in tact is something that many fail to do on their arrival, with all the temptation that lurks all around us in the form of girls, alcohol, drugs all disguised as "a good time" .I commend Apollo for managing to make it through first year untainted and for managing to keep to his beliefs despite judgement from those around him
I was quite intrigued by this article and have a lot of respect for the interviewee, as I myself am in a similar position. The interviewee is portrayed as the hero and the disruption that he encounters is that which is opposite to his persona, where students are lured to believing that there is a criterion for being ‘cool’, namely: drinking. Coming to Rhodes University has seemingly not had much effect on him as he has remained the person he came as thus far and this may be viewed as the reaching of a the second equilibrium. Heads up and keep it up and through tough times remember that He knows the plans He has for you, plans to prosper, and not to harm you, (Jeremiah 29:11).
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