As students we are often under the misconception that someone, somewhere owes us something. The reality is that we owe ourselves something and if we are in any way concerned about the future of our careers then it is up to us to make a difference. I am sure that we have all heard the motivational "pep talks" from our lecturers, supervisors and parents and as students brush them off as boring, irrelevant gibberish. During the few years of being a student myself, I have come to the realisation that to succeed one has to make things happen. There are many people who will help you, guide you and advise you, but it is up to you to facilitate a successful career. All this sounds like just another prompted lecture, but it is intended as more of a self-realisation rather than a sermon.

 

SANCOR appointed a student representative at the Southern African Marine Science Symposium in 1999. The function of this representative was to liaise with the SANCOR Steering Committee and convey any grievances or suggestions that students may have. Of course, students being students, Ntobeko Bacela (our elected representative) had little to report as he had very little feedback from students. The message that is gleamed from this is that the students have no problems and everyone is quite happy and satisfied with their present situation. From a personal opinion I feel that it is due to a lack of apathy on the students part and perhaps a lack of understanding of what SANCOR can do for students. I was fortunate (some may say unfortunate) enough to sit in on the last SANCOR Steering Committee meeting as Ntobeka’s representative.

 

 It may not seem like the most interesting or exciting activity to take part in, but it was at this meeting that I realised that we, as students, need to become more proactive. SANCOR is basically a networking organisation for marine and coastal science in South Africa. You may be wondering how this affects you. You have your project, your supervisor, your organisation of affiliation, so how does SANCOR affect you? The people who give of their time and expertise to take part in SANCOR have your best interests at heart. They are facilitating and securing the sustainability of marine research in this country and therefore they are attempting to ensure that you will have employment in the future. You may still be wondering what this has to do with you. Well, nothing I suppose, if you plan to finish a degree, or two, or three, in marine science and then become a secretary, housewife, mechanic, lawyer, accountant, salesperson, or flee overseas.

 

 However, if you are serious about your career in this field, and you want to do something for the marine environment in your own country, then SANCOR has a great deal to do with you. There are so many governing factors that influence whether or not you become eligible to conduct research on whatever aspect of marine science you are involved in. Wouldn’t you like to know what those are? Soon it will be our generation that will be trying to secure the future of marine science in this country and maybe we could be more constructive if we knew what was going on right now. As students, we all want to have fun, be young and have exciting careers. We can have all of this, but with it comes the realisation that, in the real world, to have all of that we must fight for it and we must create it because no one else will do it for us.

 

My challenge to you is to become more involved in marine science in general. It is important to focus on your projects and your subject matter, but at the same time you should be aware of what else is happening and what you can get involved in. Knowledge is power and the more you learn the more valuable you will become. It is not your supervisor’s job to make you a good scientist or create a wonderful job and life for you. That is all up to you. So, get involved. Take part in the student symposia that may be happening soon at a venue near you. Contact other students around the country. The only way to get your voice heard is to speak. You began your career in this field for a particular personal reason. Whenever you feel despondent, bored, or in a no-win situation with your career, remember why you chose it initially and then talk to someone, they may have a solution for you.

 

top of pageback next