The name Amy means Beloved

The name Amy means beloved or dear to the heart and so is social butterfly Amy Pattison or Emms as her friends like to call her. “Settling in at Rhodes was easy, everyone here is really nice. I’m from Johannesburg so I’m not used to everyone being that friendly,” Amy smiles as she flicks her blonde fringe back. In true Johannesburger form Amy is confident, sociable, hard working and above all her own individual. However big city confidence or not, the adjustment from high school to university can be daunting. But, as I sit there in the mid-afternoon sun chatting to Amy I quickly learn that the challenge of adjustment for first year girls can be overcome.

Like most first years heading off in to unknown territory, Amy started off her road to Rhodes University, paved in uncertainty. However, as time passed regret soon fell away and she now has a soft spot for little old Grahamstown. “I didn’t really want to come to Rhodes and was actually nervous at first but, I don’t regret it at all,” Amy explains as she reminisces on her earlier days as a first year. Stories of first encounters and uncountable nights of fun suddenly direct our conversation away from anxious feelings of new beginnings.

Being single girls, boys and random hook-ups soon make it on to our agenda. “I am looking for someone special but, I’m not sure what steps to take,” Amy confesses. As a singleton at heart Amy like, most of us would ideally like to engage in a relationship but, finding him is like trying to find that last R5 in the bottom of your unnecessarily full handbag. But, similarly once we’ve found a potential candidate, remaining free is a battle. “I’m so used to being free and doing my own thing and don’t know how I will be able to adjust to a relationship?” she elaborates. Random hook-ups however can also make for a mess because you don’t want to become easy she explains. “If you want a relationship first year is not the time,” she beams laughing.

Being a socialite however is not the key to making it through first year. “The most important thing is learning how to balance student life,” she emphasises. As a first year at university there are many adjustments to be made and time management is one of them she elaborates. Rhodent’s have always been known for their doctorates’ in drinking but, Amy realised early on that if she wanted to make a success of student life she, would have to sacrifice some of the memorable nights about town to flirt with her books.

The afternoon sun is starting to die down now and the air crisp as Amy energetically chats away. “People always usually have the wrong perception of me, I’m a lot more grounded than they think,” she explains. As a young lady in first year there is often a battle to remain an individual. Having gone to a girl’s boarding school Amy learnt early on that in order to preserve one’s individuality, time needs to be taken for one self. A time when all you have, is your thoughts. This time comes to play for Amy when she is drawing. “I love drawing, I can spend hours at a time drawing,” she says doodling in mid-air as she expresses herself.

There is a bite in the air and sun begins to set as our interview draws to a close.