Informal chat: Petrus Jansen van Rensburg

[@nadiatrent2886]

Well done, Petrus, for sticking through it and taking the massive risks that you did. You add your name to a list of IE graduates from UP who completed postgraduate studies abroad. I was happy to pay forward the support and encouragement I received from Prof Johan Joubert (in 2007, when he was still Dr Joubert) and my then-boss Hans Ittman when I started my journey to Georgia Tech. We can never fully repay our mentors, but we can do for others what they did for us. I want to echo your sentiments that it is a big wide world out there and the US is not the only "foreign" place to go. Anywhere you go will give you a clearer perspective of where you come from because it is a view from the outside-in. If studying abroad is not on the cards for you, you can still find ways to challenge your perspectives and grow by pursuing things outside of your comfort zone: academically, professionally, and culturally. @JohanJoubert... I will get you back for digging up that clip. I have worked VERY hard to bury that piece of my past :)

[@petrusvanrensburg7883]

Nadia! I can't thank you enough for pushing me in this direction. You really inspired me and I am truly thankful! I can only hope to be half as inspirational as you and Dr Joubert. Y'all (yes that's right! I said "y'all") really created a deep curiosity, about how the world of IE works, in me that pushed me to want to learn more and to become a life long learner. Y'all truly embody the true spirit of education and learning. I am forever grateful. Anyone can reach out to me if you need some inspiration or guidance on the process of studying abroad!

[@fabricetshinangi5042]

Well done, Petrus. Thank you Prof JJ for posting this video. I'm actually interested to study abroad. Taking BAN and BOZ really helped me a lot in terms of how to think and tackle problems.

[@nemo_shrts]

thanks for this very informative !