My Lived Experience of being part of the SeStuTHESA group at the AR conference, NMMU, PE

The bus trip to Port Elizabeth was reasonably quiet. I enjoyed the camaraderie that was evident from the moment we met at DUT to embark on our journey. This atmosphere of tolerance, kindness, sharing, humility and humour continued throughout the three day experience. I did not present on the first day and chose the sessions I wanted to attend carefully so that I could see speakers from other centres and at the same time be present for my group so that I could give them my support. I also wanted to hear my colleagues’ presentations anyway. Fortunately I did get to see other presenters. There were three to five exceptional one’s and the rest were very disappointing having lost the plot of Action Research. It made me extremely proud that our group through the coaching we receive from our professor Joan Conolly, all made outstanding presentations. What I have learnt: • I must always be myself. • The audience are also human beings with feelings, hopes and dreams and talking to a large audience is ok because of that. • Telling my experience like it is also ok because disappointments, mistakes and dark periods in our lives are part of our Lived Experience (Whitehead) and being truthful about them is important. • Therefore covering up and pretending everything is good is not ok. • I listen to the way my colleagues’ work, present, think and process information and learn from them as well. In fact I have learnt an enormous amount from them. I value the advice and input they give me in my work. I felt so honoured and humbled by being noticed by Jack Whitehead and having my presentation put on YouTube. The affirmation from my colleagues meant even more and looking at Lee, Linda, Naretha, Chris and Joan’s faces during the presentation confirmed the bond that all of us have with each other. That bond and connectedness is very important in the scholarly journey I have chosen to embark upon. I am fed by the energy of the group and our professor. The energy of the group energises me and I am then in turn encouraged by that in the times that are low on this journey. The meeting with Jack was inspired, connected, with an enormous amount of cohesion. He is a true Servant Leader and inspires me to great heights. I feel so privileged to work with him. The skeleton and outline of my New Venture Creation Book came to me while on the bus trip back. I pictured how the book will look and how to go about writing it. (436words) The trip back on the bus was full of lightness, laughter, easy banter, argument and jest. It was a totally wonderful experience that I will always treasure.