God help me (if you’re even there).

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.

Missy's misdemeanours

A lovely young lady, one who has replaced her home many times before in the search of something stable, something steadfast is now situated in the smallest community with the most diversity. She came to Rhodes. All is well in the land of the ambitious youth who never cease to grab an opportunity, however thoughtless, with full force and Missy* is no exception to the rule.
Missy* arrived at Rhodes having travelled most of the world with the conscious certainty that she knew what to expect and that she would know how to handle it. She admits to having only been involved in meaningful relationships prior to university, saying “I realised you can’t have a boyfriend at varsity.” When asked why she came to such a conclusion, she explains that at university there seems to be less inhibitions so everybody tends to go out more often and there are ample opportunities to get intimate (to whichever extent one might prefer) with somebody without the complications that a long-term relationship might infer. Sitting on her bed, her legs crossed with her reading glasses perched on her mass of auburn hair, she seems lost in thought before suddenly declaring that she’s grown up. She constitutes love as a different thing now to what she did before coming to Rhodes. Missy* compares her emotional status from now with then, identifying herself as having become an emotionally stronger person. She fidgets with the strings of her tracksuit pants but her face is sombre, she is relaxed and humbled by the knowledge she has gained since attending university. When asked to define love, she replies without hesitation, “When you find that small part of your soul that’s been missing, that connection. It’s when you don’t see anyone else as anything more that just friends.” Her facial expression does not change but there is a slight sadness that creeps into her voice, it becomes less assertive. “I don’t have that emotional connection to sex anymore”. Missy* admits that as a result of past encounters, she views sex and love as different things, referring to the latter as being true when she’s willing to take a risk for someone, adding that if love isn’t visible, “then why not have some fun?” Her personal view on sex in general at Rhodes is that alcohol has a great influence on it, saying that many people change their initial views on sex once having been at Rhodes because the option to do things that aren’t in your nature is more available and less scrutinised. All seriousness aside, Missy* literally lets her hair down and smiles coyly. She is in a relationship at present and although she says that she is happy and could possibly fall in love with her beau she doesn’t think it is true love. “You might meet your prince charming at Rhodes, but not your king.” All in all, Missy* has embraced Rhodes and the countless images of love, sex and abstinence with a strong will and even stronger values. She is the epitome of carefree indulgence, with that pungent element of wisdom that makes it worth the while.