Who's Who of Southern Africa

Have you ever wondered what it’s like working for a tertiary institution? As part of our Spotlight On series, Who’s Who has investigated the professional life of an aspiring academic.

Meet Chad Brevis, an English graduate that has chosen to keep studying, researching and fulfilling his passion for words while making money teaching at his graduating college, the University of the Western Cape.

Chad started as an Ethics and English tutor exactly one year after obtaining his BA degree with Ethics, Language and Communication, and English Literature as his triple majors. He has also completed his B.A. (Hons) in English Literature and Linguistics. This means that 100% of his tertiary education contributes to his success as a professional tutor. In addition, the passion that Chad has for thinking, writing and generating debates greatly contributes to his love for teaching and researching. Enabling others with knowledge and critical thinking is strong motivation that allows him to actively help his students improve not only themselves but also their social and moral environment, a privilege that he is able to accomplish because of his academic dedication.

To qualify as a tutor in the first post graduate year, students need to earn a minimum average of 65% in the subject that they wish to teach in. Each department within the Arts Faculty has their own pay rate and working hours, so these will vary. As a first time tutor in the Ethics department, Chad was put in charge of two groups of twenty students, to which he dedicated two hours of teaching each week. Additionally, he was available for two more hours a week for official consultations… not to mention countless unofficial hours. Three years after obtaining his first degree,  the number of individuals in his groups in the English Department has grown. As a tutor his responsibilities include teaching, marking, attendance administration, and attending departmental meetings.

He admits that even though he tutors just five hours a week, many more hours of preparation and administration are required. Working on his Masters thesis, submitting articles for publication in IAM magazine as a staff writer and assisting his mentors and lecturers with their academic papers adds to the unofficial work hours he endures. He does this in order to fully take advantage of the opportunities that will enable him to succeed beyond average expectations. Chad also promotes his own blogs aimed at giving locals an opportunity to make their voices heard in a non-academic context. “I make a conscious choice to ensure that each and every activity I undertake benefits my passions to the maximum. If it does not, I find a way to make it relevant to what I do and how I do it,” he says.

Even while studying, Chad wasn’t far from the written word, working for Bargain Books for six years until he finished his degree. His sights are set on the corporate world, and he hopes to run his own media company one day. Chad’s work ethic calls for passion, hard work and dedication.“I believe enough is still not enough,”  he says.

- If you would like to be featured in our Spotlight On series, send an email to info@whoswho.co.za, addressed to Lauren with the subject Spotlight On and tell us a bit about yourself.

By Lauren van Schalkwyk, Online Content Administrator at Who’s Who