Standing in front of a room full of students and asking them to vote for you is not everyone’s idea of fun. For Justin de Villiers, it was one of the most nerve-racking moments of his university career.

To become a House Committee member in Helshoogte residence, candidates must deliver a speech explaining why they should be elected. De Villiers still remembers how nervous he felt. “I was shaking afterwards,” he recalls.

Yet today, the final-year geoinformatics student describes being elected to the Helshoogte House Committee as one of his proudest achievements. Not because of the title itself, but because it represented something bigger: finding the confidence to step forward and contribute to a community that had helped him find his place. It is a theme that runs through much of his Stellenbosch University (SU) journey.

Growing up in Paarl, De Villiers was a curious child with a wide range of interests. He started playing percussion at the age of five and quickly developed a love for music at the Frank Pieterson Music Centre. Outside the classroom, he was an active Scout, spending weekends on camps, learning navigation skills and exploring the outdoors.

“I’ve always loved nature. My father and I used to go hiking together, and I was always interested in maps and geography.”

That combination of interests eventually led him to geoinformatics, a field that combines geography, technology and computer science. During a visit to SU’s Open Day in matric, he discovered the programme and immediately knew it was the right fit. Today he is completing his final year and hopes to continue with honours studies next year.

Finding support

While De Villiers was excited to begin university, he was also stepping into unfamiliar territory. Neither of his parents had attended university, making him the first member of his family to pursue higher education. “I was nervous because I didn’t really know what to expect,” he says.

His introduction to university life came through the SOAR programme, which supports first-generation students as they transition into higher education. The programme not only helped him understand the practical side of university life but also reassured his parents. “They could see that this was a place where I would be supported,” he says.

Like many first-year students, he initially struggled with time management and finding the right balance between academic work and everything else university life had to offer. Eventually, he sought assistance through the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD), where academic counselling helped him identify the areas where he needed to improve. 

The experience changed his perspective on seeking help. “I used to think you only ask for help when something goes seriously wrong. Now I tell students that even if you’re unsure, it doesn’t hurt to reach out.”

Giving back

The support he received inspired him to become part of the support system for others. De Villiers became a SOAR mentor and later a wellness mentor in Helshoogte residence. As House Committee member in Helshoogte, his responsibilities include social impact, environmental impact and facilities management.

De Villiers remarks that few people have influenced his Stellenbosch journey more than Dr Joy Petersen, First-Year Student Experience Coordinator and Residence Head at the Centre for Student Life and Learning. Through her encouragement, mentorship and unwavering belief in his potential, she inspired him to pursue opportunities that helped shape both his confidence and his growth as a leader. “The reason I became a SOAR mentor was because of the impact the programme had on me,” he explains. “I wanted to give back.”

Over time, he began to realise that even small acts of guidance can have a lasting effect. “When you’re mentoring students, you don’t always realise the impact you’re having,” he says. “Years later, you meet former mentees and see all the amazing things they’re doing. It’s rewarding to know you played a small part in that.”

For De Villiers, resilience is one of the most important lessons university can teach. “If you fail a test or don’t do as well as you hoped, that doesn’t define you. The important thing is getting up and moving forward.”

A full life beyond the lecture hall

Away from academics and leadership responsibilities, De Villiers has continued to pursue the passions that have shaped him since childhood. He is a percussionist with the Winelands Philharmonic Orchestra and a dedicated member of the Maties Ballroom and Latin Dancing Society.

Music, he says, provides an important counterbalance to academic pressure. “When I’m playing music, I’m not thinking about assignments or exams. It shifts my focus completely.” Dancing entered his life for a similar reason. “I realised music wasn’t engaging my whole body, so I started ballroom and Latin dancing. It combines my love of music with being active.”

Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, De Villiers says the legacy of the students reminds him that young people have both a voice and a responsibility to help shape the future. Their courage gives him confidence that even small acts of leadership can contribute to meaningful change. “The students of 1976 remind us that young people can and do make a difference,” he says.

It is a lesson he hopes today’s students will embrace. “You’re not alone. Every student has challenges. Don’t be intimidated by failure, and don’t think your voice isn’t important."

De Villiers knows from experience that sometimes the most meaningful impact begins with a single conversation, a helping hand or the courage to ask for support.