Chapter 5. A Qualitative Representation (and Explanation) of Exceptional Academic Achievement Achievement
5.4 Sindi (College of Law and Management Studies)
5.4.1 A vision for the future: “Graduate healthy.”
In addition to the references Sindi made regarding her concerns of developing cancer, she also referred to HIV, and remarked, “Look for HIV and um (.) this is just something that every student is aware of in the whole country (.) that worry is just there” (Sindi, PEI 2, 511). When discussing why she went for an HIV test, Sindi mentioned,
We always use a condom, but you know there is always like going to be a concern that maybe that we will come close to each other. Even though you don’t engage in sexual activity without the condom, but you know just like that (.) contact (.) you can, you know. (Sindi, PEI 2, 338)
I was actually sure in a way [referring to when she went for an HIV test], but you know there is always that nervousness, like “What is going to happen? What if the results are positive and?” (.) So there is always that worriness. (Sindi, PEI 2, 433) Sindi took three photographs related to her health, and discussed these first during the photo- elicitation interview she attended. Photograph 5-8 comprises a triptych of three photographs taken by Sindi, and the image on the far left reflects the results of an HIV test that she underwent in August 2012. Sindi conceptually positioned the three photographs together during the photo- elicitation interview, relating these through their focus on health. Although each photograph was presented consecutively, Sindi gave each the same title of “Graduate healthy”, and it soon emerged that each reinforced her current and future health status as a dominant motivational driver during her studies.
Photograph 5-8. Graduate healthy (Sindi C4, C5, and C8)
Ok, for me it’s about graduate healthy. Cos um (.) the reason why I try to check my health it’s just that to me I want to (.) throughout the university I want to when I graduate I still want to graduate healthy (.) still want to fulfil my dreams and (.) So, for me, it’s like I’m strict on that you know … there are so many students (.) even if it’s not health issues. Maybe if students are too active, maybe party a lot, then they get into accidents and you know. It’s just like um I (.) I’m thinking about that (.) I came here to the university to study, and at home they are waiting for me. So, I just want to be here, and then complete my degree and still be able to go and work.
(Sindi, PEI 2, 161)
The above excerpt refers specifically to the image on the right of Photograph 5-8, this being a photograph of a receipt from the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). Sindi reported having a Pap smear and breast examination in August 2012, selecting to take a photograph of the receipt from this, as well as the nursing assistant who worked at CANSA and gave her the results (featured in the central image of Photograph 5-8). For Sindi, these photographs were about a future event (i.e., graduating healthy), made possible by current behaviours and strategies that enable this. Sindi went on to explain how these photographs related to her current academic performance.
For me there is a very strong link between my health and my academic performance, because I’m not sure maybe with cancer that can change. But, if my health had to change like drastically, I don’t think I will still feel the same way about what is going to happen in the future. (Sindi, PEI 2, 464)
Sindi noted how a health problem may have compromised how she felt about her future. She had already secured employment for when she graduated (being funded by a bursary from a major accounting firm), and went on to comment,
So I think the only problem that can stand between my success now (.) if my health is a problem … I mean in South Africa that is mostly I think a big challenge for students and for parents you know. Because they put you through the university hoping that you will come out and start working for them. But if you don’t have your health or if something happens to you then, that is all gone.72 (Sindi, PEI, 2, 480)
72 As discussed in Chapter 3 (see section 3.7), the research participants verified their data descriptions, thereby contributing to the descriptive validity for this part of the study. After reading her description, Sindi met with me and clarified that she did not believe that if students developed cancer or contracted
Sindi’s focus on her health was positioned in her path of academic achievement, graduation, employment, and eventual success in life. It serves as something that she can control, as well as a force that orientated her towards her future. It was something that she had identified as a
potential barrier to her eventual success. She went on to highlight that –
I have worked before, and I have seen like (.) I have enjoyed getting paid, driving cars, so I want to have that, and I don’t want anything standing in between me and that. So, maybe anything that maybe is a threat I want to just eliminate on my way.
So, maybe I just want to make sure that I … I don’t know. (Sindi, PEI 2, 524)
In addition to her experience of working before, Sindi also reflected on her educational and family background, and the role that this played in her vision for the future.
Also, it has to do with my background. Also in my family, my mum she is a single parent and she used to tell us we have to be in the top 10 and we have to work very hard to get there. So, it’s what we grew up with. Until I went to DUT (.) I also think I graduated well there, because I got a few distinctions. But the problem there was I used NSFAS and I was not staying very close to the university. And I had to work to get food. So it was a bit of a challenge there as well. So, but now, I also (.) when I got NSFAS last year, I worked hard to make sure I get a bursary and luckily I did, so with that as well I also had my own personal goals. It’s not just that I get that 60%. I also have my own personal goals of graduating cum laude or summa cum laude.
(Sindi, FGD 1, 438)