Chris Jansen van Vuuren

Applying for Primarius, Vice Primarius & HK Member.

Pieke has been a massive part of my life for the past few years. I have made life-long friends

& have learned a lot about myself, my community, and the world that we live in. It has been

a blessing to serve Pieke over the past few years and I will continue to serve as long as I can.

I have been actively involved in the Pieke leadership structure from the start, having served

on the First Years Committee, Second Years Committee, Mentors, as well as my current

term as Head Mentor. I have learned a lot through the experiences, but I know there is

still so much more to learn. With the current circumstances – not having had a full term in

Stellenbosch, I would like to use the experience that I attained through the term so far

(from electing Mentors to planning and executing O-week) to provide a safe space for our

newcomers, as well as keeping the rest of the house involved.

I see myself as a very charismatic/enthusiastic leader. I love working with people and finding

a deeper connection with them. In my opinion, the best leaders are authentic leaders.

Leading by example is something I strive towards – It isn’t always easy, but it’s a process of

continuous improvement. To me, integrity is very important – doing the right thing,

regardless of whether people are watching you. If you do the right thing, you are doing

enough.

My experience as Head Mentor has taught me a lot. I worked with an amazing team and

they did a fantastic job. The team was a young and enthusiastic group of people and they

made my job very easy. The biggest lesson I learned during welcoming was learning to trust

others. I would try to do everything myself and get overwhelmed in the process. As a result

of academic responsibilities, we were short-handed at the start of the year and the mentors

jumped in and helped out wherever we needed assistance. I have become good friends with

a lot of them and it has become more than just a work relationship.

Leadership training is important, as it provides valuable experience to the prospective

leaders. With that said, I think the university can improve the training facilities immensely. I

have attended SU leadership sessions since 2018 and nothing has changed. The facilitators

stay the same and the same topics are covered. It is helpful during the first session, but it

becomes repetitive and discourages people to attend. Introducing new facilitators with a

fresh take on leadership could provide for an enhanced experience.

My biggest goal for the coming term is to improve communication in the house. This entails

improving/optimising WhatsApp groups, Social media platforms (like Instagram and

Facebook). I am currently working on a website for Pieke, intending to provide a platform

that explains what Pieke is, what we offer, introducing committees, and informing the

audience about any news. This will be a central communications hub available to any

reader. I found it difficult to figure out what PSOs entailed when I arrived in Stellenbosch,

and I want to enhance the experience for prospective students as well.

Adaptability will play a bigger role than ever, in my opinion, as the pandemic continues to

affect the entire world. The goal will always be to provide a safe space, a welcoming

environment, and a sense of belonging to our community - whether it is physically or

virtually.

I will serve the house to the best of my abilities, regardless of the "rank" my position. Alles vir die huis.