Kyle Cupido, a fourth-year Dentistry student, shares some tips to make your first year easier. Image: Supplied

Starting your undergraduate journey can be intimidating and cause a bit of anxiety, but you’re not alone, and it's worth remembering that some have come before you who can share some sage advice.

Kyle Cupido is a 21-year-old fourth-year dentistry student, and he’s been using his TikTok account since he started at the University of the Western Cape to highlight the ups and downs of university life.

Cupido explained his early challenges in primary school: "I grew up in Atlantis, and I went to my first school, which was Avondale Primary, for Grade R and Grade 1. I had trouble reading in Grade 1, then my parents had to move me to a different school that actually helped me read because the initial school wasn't providing me with enough help," he said.

When Cupido was in Grade 10, his family moved to the Eastern Cape, and it was while attending Uniondale High School that he had a teacher who inspired him."He taught Life Science, and he was very passionate about the subject… he never used the textbooks; it was all in his head. He explained everything with such passion that it pushed me, and I actually started liking Life Science," he said.

Cupido returned to Atlantis and enrolled at Saxonsea High School, where the UWC Student Enrolment Management Unit (SEMU) visited and outlined the University courses students could apply for. He recalled that one UWC staff member from the SEMU team spotted him, and that interaction changed his life. 

“He was explaining how difficult it was to get accepted to study dentistry. I was in the Top 3 in my term, and I had a badge on my shoulder, which he saw,” said Cupido.

The staff member encouraged him to apply, but went one step further: “I told him I’d be interested in studying dentistry, and he gave me a card. On the card, he wrote ‘The things we want, we have to work hard for.’ I kept that card throughout Matric, and every time I looked for motivation, I looked at that card, and it pushed me to study harder and harder because I knew dentistry was a tough course to get into.” 

Cupido has used his TikTok account not only to share his study journey, but also to provide insight into the highs and lows of university life. His videos have gained traction, and many aspiring dentistry students comment on his content with admiration and excitement. When asked to reflect on his first year, Cupido said he would do a few things differently. 

“I wouldn't have been so hard on myself. I feel like I was too hard on myself. Because I was doing so well in high school, I expected to get the same marks in my first year at UWC. But that's not the case because the level of difficulty increases, and the workload increases. High School is nothing compared to the amount of effort you need to put in at university.” 

For first-year students starting their academic journey, Cupido’s message is simple: believe in yourself, trust the process and keep pushing forward.

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