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2026 is getting under way! You may have received wishes for a year “full of things that have never been.” Such a lovely thought. Here’s the full quote, from the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke:
“And now let us believe in a long year that is given to us, new, untouched, full of things that have never been, full of work that has never been done, full of tasks, claims, and demands; and let us see that we learn to take it without letting fall too much of what it has to bestow upon those who demand of it necessary, serious, and great things.”
Isn’t that wonderful? Take time to read it carefully and consider the separate ideas:
- A long year
- Given to you
- Full of things that have never been
But also
- Full of work that has never been done, tasks, claims, demands
- And a responsibility to demand of this time necessary, serious, and great things.
A thought not just for the week, but for the year!
With universities scheduled to open in around two weeks’ time, I’m sure you are thinking ahead to what lies ahead in 2026. For new first-year students, it may be scary, a step into a new and completely unkown world. Always remember, your admission to a tertiary institution is a reward for all the hard work in matric—a gate pass to a new future, which very literally will be “full of things that have never been”. Hold on to that when the beginning of the academic year feels overwhelming with all that’s new and strange, so many forms to complete, faces to get to know, and buildings to find. Don’t worry—thousands have done it before you. You will find your way.
Returning students are also in for a transition. The step up from first to second year, or even further on in your course, is challenging. Studying is hard work!
Some days in this coming year you will feel swamped and exhausted, as if you’re caught in the rain on a long dark road where everything seems impossible. The only way to get through that is to be very clear about your goal, about why you are there. One should not start a journey without knowing where you want to go. If that is clear, you can always get back on the road, even if there are storms and roadblocks, or you lose your way for a while.
So: before you set out on this new journey, find time to think carefully about your goal for your university career. You may think, “Ag, of course I know what I want from my time at university,” but it will serve you well to spell it out for yourself. What are the “necessary, serious, and great things” you want to achieve? Make it practical. Bring it down to earth. Give your dream future a solid outline by turning it into a SMART goal:
Think about it this way:
Write it out, big and bold, and stick it up above your desk or on the inside of your cupboard where you will see it every day. No matter how stressful, unpredictable, unmanageable (or even boring!) the days get in the year ahead, this is what you’re aiming for. This is your why.
We will come back to goalsetting in future newsletters. You may have goals in other areas of your life, like socially or in sport or in student affairs. We’ll talk about that. We’ll also talk about how to make that far-off aim relevant for what you do today.
For now, though, as you prepare to step into this new year, take time to make sure you know exactly what you’re aiming for, and what is your WHY.
Happy packing and preparing
The GRAD team
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GRAD – your guide to university success is a partnership project of Ruda Landman, StudyTrust, Van Schaik Publishers and Capitec Bank.