In 2021 in an online Woman’s Day webinar, I heard a saying that struck a deep chord with me – it was “Find your vibe, and you’ll attract your tribe”. Yes…

I’ve been a really bad blogger, so there’s a couple of things- good and bad – that I probably should have blogged about to keep an accurate record of what’s happening in my world. Anyway, I know instead of beating myself up about it, now is as good as any to try to ‘catch up’.

One of the auspicious things that happened last year is that I attracted my tribes. My people, I am not sure if I have the words to explain it, but I’ll try.

The first group are the IEC – The Innovative Engineering Curriculum project team.

https://iecurricula.co.za/index

https://iecurricula.co.za/workshop_series_6

I had heard about the IEC previously (2021/22) and attended a workshop they offered when they had just formed – but then things went a bit pear-shaped, and I had to deal with cancer treatment, so the rest of the world – including the IEC, faded into the background.

I am extremely pleased that, fast forward to 2023, the group leader reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to collaborate. Of course, that wasn’t even a question! See the thing is, the role I’m in at CPUT (FEBE L&T Coordinator) is a pretty lonely role. There’s only one of me per faculty in the institution- and that being said each of us does slightly different things (have slightly different responsibilities) in our respective faculties.

So when I met up with Lelanie Smith that first time, I jumped when she offered me a spot on the team. It certainly wasn’t for noble reasons – it was purely to co-opt the help I needed to get the job done. But then as I started working with them, and the more I got to know them, and the more they held a space for me and I for them, the more I fell in love. My tribe. My kinda people. We share articles and video clips about teaching strategies and read about learning styles and types of assessment for fun! And now I want to keep on giving because, it simply feels right. Although it wasn’t love at first sight, it’s high quality love. The kind that you treasure, cherish and nurture.

As a bonus, being part of the team afforded me the opportunity to visit Scandinavia and the UK last year. But maybe, therein lies the magic. The ‘going away’, the spending time together, the common experience around the common goal that allows a team or tribe to gel, and then move forward.

Aside from being on the IEC project – another collaboration came from being awarded a TAU fellowship last year. TAU being Teaching Advancement at Universities

TAU

I got the news that I was selected as a TAU fellow early last year – although we only had online sessions from then till July, when we had our first contact session in Gqeberha and more recently our second contact session in Mulderdrift. It’s been a really good (rewarding) experience. Similar to the IEC, it’s a group of like-minded individuals who want to make a difference in Higher Education in South Africa. Within the larger group I also found my people – the academic staff developers. Known by my cohort, as Enquiry Group Seven (EG7). Great people. Watch this space, as hopefully soon I will be sharing some collaborative artifacts which is the outcome of TAU for us, once the fellowship ends.

And this leads me to my plans for this year. I’m studying further again. A PGDip HE in academic development at Rhodes University. I’m honestly not sure how the stars aligned for this – I surely don’t think I can take credit, but on top of being accepted for the programme, I got a bursary that will cover all the costs of this qualification – as long as I make adequate progress. Beyond grateful. Humbled. In awe and wonder. Our first block session will be next week, when I go to Makhanda. I have a feeling – just a hunch- that I’ll be meeting more people, another tribe that I belong to.

Ultimately, at the moment I feel like I’m in flow. I’ve heard a saying recently, where attention goes, energy flows. I’ve been paying attention to the things at work that give me the most joy and pleasure – and it’s like the path just unfolded in front of me.

And as I’m writing this a penny drops. The reason that I feel like I belong, because every member of all of these ‘tribes’ volunteered to be there – volunteered to do the work. We’re not doing it for payment. We do the work for the love of education, perhaps some for career progression. For now, our personal interests align. A common goal and value system unites us.

I know I’m life things are always cyclical – so at a point when I need to grow tremendously again, I might have to go through tremendous tension again. That being said, I recognize that my tribes won’t last forever- but for now I shall not fret over that. I pray that I will always remember to stay present. Stay conscious and awake. I will try to recognize whatever is not in my control and let go of that. I feel that, right now I waxing….. like a moon growing fuller every day, I’m in the part of the cycle where I’m excited, bit scared, but mostly excited – time to shine ✨